india

Updated: May 13, 2019 08:16 IST

Two militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s southern district of Shopian on Sunday, police said.

Officials said the forces, acting on a credible input, launched a cordon and search operation in the morning in Hend-Sitapur area.

“During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter,” police spokesperson Manoj Kumar said.

“In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The identities and affiliations of the killed terrorists are being ascertained,” Kumar said.

Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, was recovered from the site of encounter, the official said. No collateral damage took place during the exchange of fire, the spokesperson also said.

Kumar also requested citizens not to venture inside the site of the encounter since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are also requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitised and cleared of all the explosive materials if any, the spokesperson said.

A militant from an Islamic State-inspired group was killed in a gun battle with security forces in the Shopian district on Friday. The militant was identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi alias Umar and belonged to the Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK), police said.