Srinagar: Two militants were killed in an encounter between the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militants and security forces in south Kashmir's Pulwama district today, official sources said. Meanwhile, locals hit the streets and started pelting stones at security forces near the encounter site. Security forces burst teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators, who were trying to move towards the sealed area. Firing has stopped, but search operation continued in the area, official sources said.
They said that security forces and the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint search operation at Padgampora, Awantipora in Pulwama district, following a tip-off about the presence of militants. However, when security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village, the militants resorted to indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons, which was retaliated, ensuing an encounter. Two local militants belonging to LeT were killed, they said.
However, the operation continued, they added. 'We heard loud explosions and heavy exchange of fire since early this morning,' local residents said. 'We are not being allowed to move out of our houses by the security forces,' they alleged and said reports of stone pelting were received from some areas. Additional security forces had been rushed to the area, where locals are pelting stones to disrupt the operation. Security forces had also sealed all roads leading to the village, including from Awantipora to prevent people from moving towards the encounter site. (UNI)