Two Jaish-e-Muhammad militants were shot dead by the government forces in a nocturnal gunfight in Drabgam village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday.
An official said that a gunfight broke out around midnight after the forces launched searches in Drabgam following inputs about the presence of militants in a residential house.
He said the two militants hiding in the house opened fire after the forces approached them. The forces retaliated, leading to a gunfight that raged for several hours. “Two militants were killed in the ensuing gunfight, said the official, adding that their identity was being ascertained.
However, a source identified the slain militants as Shahid Ahmad Baba of Drabgam and Inayat Ahmad of Arihal. Both were affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit.
Earlier, intense clashes erupted after the youth took to streets and pelted the forces with stones to disrupt the anti-militant operation. The forces lobbed tear gas shells to disperse them.
Following the routine, authorities suspended the mobile Internet service in Pulwama and Shoian districts soon after the gunfight broke out.