Two militants were killed in a 24-hour-long gunfight in Warpora, Sopore area of Baramulla district on Friday.
Three residential houses, two cowsheds, a kitchen were gutted during the gunfight.
“The bodies of the militants and some arms and ammunition have been retrieved from the encounter site. Their identity has not been established yet,” said senior superintendent of police Sopore Javed Iqbal.
Based on specific information, army’s 22RR, special operation group of police and CRPF jointly conducted a cordon and search operation in the area on Thursday. A gunfight erupted between the militants hiding there and the forces.
Intermittent exchange of fire continued during the Thursday night. On Friday, the forces killed both the militants. At the encounter site, three residential houses, two cowsheds and a kitchen suffered damage.
Following the encounter, the police asked people not to venture near the encounter site till the area is sanitised.
A complete shutdown was observed in Sopore town on Friday.
All the shops were closed and traffic movement was affected throughout the day on Friday. The authorities had imposed section 144 in the area to thwart any protest in the area. Internet services too were snapped in Sopore town and its adjacent areas.
Meanwhile, locals at the encounter site found a body part and claimed that it was of a third militant. However, the Sopore police said the body part may have been of one of the two slain militants.
“As per our information, only two militants were holed up. The body part may be of the slain militants,” said SSP Sopore, Javed Iqbal.
Meanwhile, soon after the body part was found, announcements were made on loudspeakers asking people to assemble for the funeral of “militant”.