3 militants, cop killed in encounters in J-K’s Shopian and Budgam

Srinagar, February 19

Three militants were killed in an encounter in south Kashmir's Shopian district on Friday, while in a separate gun battle still under way a policeman was killed and a second injured in central Kashmir's Budgam district, officials said.

The Shopian encounter started between militants and security forces in Budgam on Thursday night. It took place after security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about militants’ presence.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where militants were hiding they came under a heavy fire that triggered the encounter.

The gunfight has stopped and the security forces are searching the area. Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the encounter spot.

"Three unidentified militants have been killed in the Shopian encounter. Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, recovered. Search is going on," the police said.

In the encounter under way at Beerwah in Budgam, “Special Police Officer Mohammad Altaf was killed and and another cop Manzoor Ahmad was injured," the police said. IANS