Two unidentified militants killed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore in overnight encounter

Srinagar: Two unidentified militants were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday.

The gunfight broke out on Thursday night after a joint operation was launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army’s 22-Rashtriya Rifles in Sagipora village of Sopore following “specific inputs” about the presence of some militants in the area.

Firing was suspended during the late hours of Thursday due to darkness, a police official said. However, security forces sealed all the exit points near the targeted house, leaving no chances for militants to escape.

“Early in the morning firing resumed and two terrorists were gunned down. One of the downed terrorists is a Pakistani. The terrorists are believed to be affiliated to Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Muhammad outfits,” he said and added that the operation is ongoing.

Earlier, Kashmir Zone Police in a post on X said: “Acting on a specific input regarding the presence of #terrorists in Panipora #Sopore area of #Baramulla, a joint anti-terrorist #operation was launched by Police and security forces. During the search operation, an exchange of fire took place. Further details shall follow.”

Security forces have intensified operations against the militants in the recent weeks following a number of attacks carried out by the terrorists on civilians and the army. On Thursday, terrorists killed two village defence guards in hilly Kishtwar district of Jammu region after kidnapping them.

Two militants were killed on Wednesday - one in Lolab area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district and another in Ketsun forests of neighbouring Bandipora district by the security forces.

Terrorists killed seven people on October 20 when they attacked the workers camp of an infrastructure project company in Gagangir area of central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.

On October 24, terrorists killed three Army soldiers and two civilian porters when they attacked an Army vehicle in Botapathri area of Gulmarg in Baramulla district.