Two HM militants killed in Kulgam encounter

Srinagar: Two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir district of Kulgam early this morning. Meanwhile, one man was arrested from the encounter site though it was not immediately clear if he was a militant or a civilian. Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia told UNI that following specific information about presence of militants at Khudwani in Kulgam, a joint search operation was launched by the Army, Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF in the area.

However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons. The security forces retaliated ensuing in an encounter, he said. Col Kalia said two militants were killed in the exchange of fire. “Bodies of both the militants were recovered alongwith two weapons,” he said, adding the operation has ended. Official sources said both the slain militants belong to HM. They said one person was arrested from the encounter site. “Security forces are question the apprehended person to ascertain if he is a militant or a civilian,” they added. (UNI)