Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists have been gunned down in Kulgam district's Khudwani after an intense gunfight between security forces and militants broke out early morning today.

In addition, an over ground worker (OGW) has been arrested alive.

Acting on a tip off, the armed forces company cordoned off a village in Khudwani area at 3am today, when they were fired upon by holed up militants.

The two militants killed in the exchange of fire have been identified as Dawood Ahmed Ali and Shaiyar Ahmed Wani and the OGW as Arief Sofi.

An AK-47and an INSAS rifle has been recovered from the encounter site. Both Hizbul operatives were part of the Altaf Kachru group in Anantnag and Kulgam belt.

Slain Hizbul terrorist Dawood Ahmed Ali Slain Hizbul terrorist Dawood Ahmed Ali

Slain Hizbul terrorist Shaiyar Ahmed Wani Slain Hizbul terrorist Shaiyar Ahmed Wani

Dawood was earlier involved in a murder of a village head (sarpanch) and the Arwani bank robbery.

This comes hours after Shopian encounter on Sunday, wherein a Hizbul terrorist was neutralised and another apprehended alive, first in many years.

Khudwani once considered as a bastion of stone pelting did not witness any resistance from the civilians after today's encounter.

Both the encounters have struck the Valley at the time of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's four-day visit to the state.

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