The operation has concluded now. | Photo Credit: ANI

Budgam: An encounter between terrorists and security forces in Zagoo Arizal area of Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district has been concluded and two terrorists trapped in the area have been killed. Following information about the presence of militants in Bugoo village in Arizal area, the security forces started a cordon and search operation.

"The hiding militants fired at the security forces triggering the gunfight. Searches are ongoing in the village," police sources said. The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in a statement, said that during the search operation, terrorists fired on the security forces, which was retaliated.

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The cops have recovered incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition from the site of encounter and a case has been registered. "We had been tracking this group for some time, they were here probably to create unrest for upcoming Panchayat elections. We have recovered two-AK 47s & one pistol," said Col AK Nair, Commanding Officer, 53 RR.

The police have also requested residents to not venture near the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. They have also requested locals to cooperate with them till the area is completely sanitised.

Immediately after the encounter started the locals started pelting stones on the security convoy. A media van was also targeted during this provocation.

A dangerous trend has been observed in the valley in which stone makers resort to stone pelting while security forces conduct encounter in the valley. Their immediate purpose is to divert the attention of the security forces so that the terrorists can escape.

This comes after bodies of two terrorists were recovered in Pulwama's Tral town following an exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces. The police had also recovered arms and ammunition including M4 and AK 47 rifles and other incriminating materials from the site of the encounter.

One of the slain terrorists is the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar.