Srinagar, Mar 3 (KNS): Three militants have been killed in an encounter between then and the forces in Dadsara village of Tral area in southern Pulwama district that broke out last evening, police sources said.
Police sources said that the encounter broke out Wednesday evening and ended before dawn of the Thursday.
The slain militants, affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen, have been identified as Asif Ahmad Mir of Dadsara, Mohammad Ishaq Ahmad Parray of Laribal and Ashiq Ahmad Mir of Chersoo.
Ishaq, who was known in his village as Newton for being a brilliant student, had joined militancy last year.
Sources said that this might be the first encounter in which the forces continued operations and firing on the militants during the night to end it before protesters gathered near the encounter site in the morning.
“Security forces wanted to end the operation during the night to not give a chance to people to gather and protest in the morning.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelSuch a situation creates hiuge trouble for us,” a police official said.
On Wednesday evening, a joint team of police and army cordoned-off a residential house in Mir Mohalla of Dadsara village after inputs about the presence of the slain militants.
“As the joint team was zeroing-in on the target house, the holed up militants opened fire resulting in an encounter which lasted several hours,” a police official said, adding that three AK-47 rifles have been recovered from the encounter site.
Protests had erupted Wednesday evening at the encounter site as soon as the forces cordoned off the area.
Meanwhile, police said that the bodies of the slain militants have been handed over to their families for burial.
As per reports, thousands of mourners have gathered in the three villages to which the slain belonged to observe funeral prayers. (KNS)