Srinagar: Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Acting on specific information about presence of some terrorists in Bijbehara town, the security forces launched a cordon and search operation by surrounding the Baghander Mohalla in wee hours of Thursday. During the search operation, terrorists opened fire on the forces who retaliated triggering an encounter in which two Hizbul Mujahideen were neutralised.
The slain terrorists were identified as Safder Amin Bhat (25) and Burhan Ahmad Ganie (25). Bhat, a Class 9 pass-out, joined Hizbul Mujahideen in May 2017. Ganie, also know as Saifullah, was pursuing Bachelor of Physiotherapy and had been a member of the terror outfit since June 2018.
Large quantity of arms and ammunition including one AK rifle and one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) has been recovered by the security forces from the encounter site.
Though the encounter has ended, the security forces have warned citizens to keep away from the encounter zone as exposure to explosive materials could prove to be dangerous.
A senior police official said that the locals have been requested to cooperate till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any.
As a precautionary measure, mobile Internet services have been suspended in the district.