Srinagar, September 04:Three militants were killed, an army major and two policemen also injured in an encounter in Yadipora area of Pattan in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

“On a specific input regarding presence of (militants) in village Yadipora Pattan, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, army’s 29RR, 176 battalion of CRPF and 02 battalion of SSB in the area,” a police spokesperson said in a statement issued here.

“During the cordon and search operation as the presence of hiding (militants) got ascertained, they were given opportunity to surrender. However, they refused and instead held two families comprising of 12 members including children as hostage,” the spokesman said, adding, “It was therefore after strenuous efforts of joint forces that all the family members were rescued and evacuated to the safer place.”

During the rescue operation, the spokesperson said, one army Major and two police personnel were injured as the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the “rescue party” which was retaliated, leading to an encounter. The injured were evacuated to hospital for treatment and are stable, the spokesman said.

“In the ensuing encounter, three unidentified (militants) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” he said. The identification and affiliation of the slain is being ascertained, he said.

“Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.

All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes,” the spokesperson said in the statement to Global News Service.

“The last rites of the killed militants shall be performed after conducting their medico-legal formalities including collection of DNA. In case any family claims the killed to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for their identification and participation in last rites to PCR Baramulla.”