New Delhi (Sputnik): At least three militants were reportedly killed in a gunfight with Indian troops in the Keller area of Shopian district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday morning. Sources told Sputnik that the Indian Army, police and paramilitary had launched a joint cordon and search operation in the early hours after receiving input about the presence of some militants in the locality. The joint search team was however attacked by the militants during the search operation and a gunfight ensued.
Three Lashkar terrorists who were killed by security forces earlier today in Shopian of South Kashmir. Ops underway. pic.twitter.com/0p2VaAZBqG
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) March 28, 2019
#JnK: Three terrorists killed in an encounter with security forces in #Shopian district early this morning.
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) March 28, 2019
Shopian Update:
— Waris Shah (@WarisSh35771806) March 28, 2019
After Brief Exchange of fire Govt Forces Recovered Three Dead Bodies of militants So Far, Search operation underway.
Details Awaited… pic.twitter.com/RzPkX7oeVW
News agency ANI quoted Jammu and Kashmir police to inform that the militants killed belonged to two different terror groups.
Jammu and Kashmir Police: The terrorists killed in the encounter in Shopian district, earlier today, have been identified as Sajad Khanday, Aqib Ahmad Dar and Basharat Ahmad Mir, all residents of Pulwama. It was a combined group of terror outfits Hizbul Mujahideen and LeT. pic.twitter.com/KQ13v5DtdF
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2019
Police officials received similar input on Wednesday night about the presence of militants at another location and during the search operations, they were fired upon by militants.
"Exchange of fire at #Yaroo area in #Handwara. Area under cordon. Details will follow," Kashmir Zone Police wrote on their Twitter handle.
Exchange of fire at #Yaroo area in #Handwara. Area under cordon. Details will follow. @JmuKmrPolice @HandwaraP
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) March 28, 2019
Local authorities have ordered to suspend internet services on mobile phones in Handwara and Sopore Police districts until further notice following the exchange of fire.
An official said the service was suspended as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in the area. Security forces in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India have remained on high alert since the Pulwama attack on 14 February in which at least 40 personnel from the Indian paramilitary forces were killed.
According to the South Asian Terrorism Portal, Indian troops successfully eliminated at least 270 terrorists from Kashmir and in the process, 95 troops lost their lives in 2018.
