Jammu and Kashmir: 6 terrorists and one soldier dead in Shopian encounter

Early this morning, one soldier was killed and six terrorists were shot dead during a fierce gun-battle in Shopian district of south Kashmir. Police officials said the terrorists killed in the encounter were involved in civilian killings in the valley. Police also stated that one of them was a Pakistani terrorist involved in the recent execution of a teenager.

After security forces received specific information about the presence of a heavily armed group inside a house, a midnight operation was launched at Batgund village in Shopian district.

Umer Ganai(slain terrorist)who had escaped from Batmaloo encounter&whose photo was recently circulated on social media showing him near Lal Chowk had figured in killings of many cops&civilians since 2016.Several terror cases registered against him: J&K Police on Shopian encounter

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2018

A joint team comprising of Jammu and Kashmir police, Army and CRPF, were carrying out searches when the terrorists opened fired at them, leading to retaliation.

A senior police officer who supervised the operation said “Four terrorists were killed outside the target house when they tried to break the cordon.”

6 militants have been killed, 4 of them belong to Hizbul Mujahideen & 2 to Lashkar-e-Taiba. Both the district commanders of HM & Lashkar have been killed. We’ve seized huge cache of arms, investigation is underway: SSP Shopian Sandeep Chaudhary on Shopian encounter earlier today pic.twitter.com/qP86AbMJG8

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2018

However, two other terrorists continued firing from the house. The police said , they were later shot dead after a three-hour gunfight.

Notably, the Pakistani terrorist, who was killed in the encounter had recently killed a teenager in the area. They didn’t stop at that, after killing the teenager, the terrorists also posted a video showing a blood-soaked knife, and threatened of more killings.

The police informed that a local terrorist killed in the encounter was involved in the murder of a former public prosecutor in Shopian a year ago. The house where the terrorists were hiding was destroyed after troops bombed the structure.

In a statement, the police said six rifles and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.

Reportedly, this is the third major encounter in less than a week in which 16 terrorists have been gunned down in south Kashmir, so far.

Also read: Punjab: Nirankari Bhavan blast prime accused Avtar Singh arrested