Three militants, one soldier killed in encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama

Three militants and an army soldier were killed in an early morning encounter in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday.

This was the second encounter between militants and security forces in south Kashmir within 24 hours in which seven ultras were neutralized.

“#PulwamaEncounterUpdate: 03 #unidentified #terrorists killed. #Incriminating materials including #arms & ammunition which. Search going on (sic),” J&K police tweeted.

Defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia, said, “One AK 47 and two pistols have been recovered. One soldier was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries. A joint operation is in progress.”

Reports said the gunfight broke out after a joint team of J&K police, Army’s 50-Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Zadoora area of Pulwama, 28 km from here during wee hours on Saturday.

As the search party encircled the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them. The fire was retaliated by the joint team, triggering off an encounter, they said.

Earlier on Friday, security forces killed four militants during an encounter in Kiloora area of neighbouring Shopian district. Army also said that one militant had surrendered.

Since the beginning of this year, security forces have killed nearly 160 militants, including 26 top commanders in J&K.