Srinagar: Two Pakistani militants were killed on Sunday in the Lolab area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, police said.
"Two Pakistani residents were killed in an ongoing encounter in Kupwara," a senior police officer said.
"In the initial exchange of fire, one militant was killed and the arrested militant leading search party also got trapped. In the ensuing encounter, so far two Pakistani militants of LeT were killed. Heavy exchange of fire is still going on and operation is in progress," he said.
However, their identities were not immediately known.
Earlier, Kupwara Police along with Army (28RR) launched a joint anti-militancy operation today on the disclosure of an arrested militant Showkat Ahmad Sheikh in the Forests of Chandigam Lolab area of Kupwara," police said in a statement.
During the search of a hideout, the hiding militants started firing indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter, the statement reads.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Kashmir Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar said that the militants can’t deter the efforts to bring peace in the valley while the anti-militancy operations will continue simultaneously in all the three regions including North, South, and central Kashmir, especially against foreign militants.
"By targeting innocent civilians including women and kids, unarmed policemen, and outside laborers, militants can’t deter our efforts to bring peace in the valley. Our CT operations will continue simultaneously in all 3 regions of Kashmir, especially against foreign terrorists," he added.
(KNO)
