india

Updated: Mar 10, 2016 01:21 IST

Security forces have gunned down two militants in an ongoing encounter in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Police have identified one of the militants as Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Abu Okasha, wanted for the Udhampur attack on a BSF convoy in August last year.

“We have killed two militants so far including Abu Okasha,” said inspector general of police, Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gilani adding that the firing has stopped but the cordon is still there.

The encounter ensued when a joint team of police and army launched a search operation in Wandakhpora village. Sources said the militants were reportedly holding a meeting. They opened fire on the security forces, who chased them.

Locals said that the militants are holding up in a nursery.

Meanwhile, scores of villagers surrounding the encounter site have come out to throw stones at the government forces in their bid to to break the cordon in the area.