Anantnag encounter: 2 Jaish militants killed, operation over, internet suspended

Anantnag: Two militants, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were killed on Thursday by security forces in an encounter that ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in this south Kashmir district on Wednesday evening, official sources said.

The operation was still going on when the reports last came in, they said mobile internet remained suspended since last evening as a precautionary measure to prevent rumours.

Official sources said today that on a tip-off about the presence of militants, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), CRPF and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint CASO at village Kandipora Bijbehara, Anantnag, Wednesday evening. However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village, militants hiding there opened fire with automatic weapons, they said adding security forces also retaliated ensuing in an encounter, they said.

Hiding militants were repeatedly asked to surrender but they refused.

Later, security forces suspended operation due to darkness to avoid any civilian killings, they said adding additional security forces were deployed in the area to foil any militant attempt to escape. Security forces also installed lights in the area to keep a close vigil.

However, with the first light, this morning security forces again resumed search operation in the area. Again this morning militants were asked to surrender and they will not be harmed. However, militants refused and continued fire, they said adding security forces also retaliated. Two militants were killed, they said adding the operation is over.

A senior police official told reporters at the site of the encounter that both the militants are killed. He said they belong to the JeM outfit.

Meanwhile, mobile internet has been suspended in Anantnag as a precautionary measure to prevent any rumours. (UNI)