Pulwama, Feb 18: Police on Thursday said that two militants were killed in a night-long encounter with troops in this south Kashmir district.
“A joint party of 55 RR and 53 RR, paramilitary CRPF of 182 battalion and the personnel of Special operation Group (SOG) of police cordoned off Shankerpora village last night and launched searches. Militants holed up inside a residential house opened fire on the search party which was retaliated triggering an encounter,” a police official told Greater Kashmir.
He said forces suspended the operation in the night and it was resumed early in the morning. “Militants tried to break the cordon and flee away. However, forces retaliated and didn’t allow them to move out. Heavy exchange of fire continued till late in the afternoon,” the officer said, adding that gunfight ended with the killing of two militants.
 He identified the slain militants as Sajad Ahmad Wani of Rajpora, Pulwama and Javaid Ahmad Hajam of Ratnipora, Pulwama. “The duo was affiliated with Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM),” the official added.
 Locals said that troopers blasted the house in which militants were holed up.

GKNN ADDS FROM JAMMU
 At least three militants reportedly escaped after a brief encounter with personnel of Special Operation Group (SOG) of police in Jammu’s Poonch district, late Wednesday night.
 Official sources said that SOG men established contact with militants in the upper reaches of Mashi Narh, Mendhar tehsil last night. However militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness.
 Army and police launched a search operation in the area, this morning, but operation was called off late Thursday evening without any breakthrough.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST