Srinagar, March 9: Two militants owing allegiance to the pro-Pakistan militant group, Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in a fierce gunfight with the Indian army in restive Kashmir on Monday.
A police spokesman said that the Indian army and police on specific information about the presence of militants laid siege around Guyer, Battas and Dharma areas in Ramban, some 160 kms from the summer capital Srinagar in early hours of Monday.
He said that while the search operation was going on, the militants fired from automatic weapons towards the troopers. “The fire was returned and in the ensuing gunfight two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed,” he said.
The slain militants were identified as Abdul Majid, 25 and Mohammad Altaf, 22. “A sniper rifle, one .303 rifle with magazine, two 303 cartridges, one pouch, one Sniper Gun with magazine and five rounds were recovered from the encounter site,” he said.
Meanwhile, police sources said that heavy exchange of fire took place between militants and Indian soldiers at Freslar, Handwara in North Kashmiron Monday. They said that after the gunfight the militants, who were said to be three in number, managed to escape from the area.
Additional police and army personnel were rushed to the area to flush out the militants. No arrests were, however, reported.
