Shopian, Dec 26: Two militants have been killed in ongoing South Kashmir encounter.

A gunfight which had raged between Joint Forces including soldiers from 44 Rashtriya Rifles and militants after a siege was laid around Kanigam village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district yesterday.

As the search operation was launched, militants fired upon search party, leading to an encounter.

Sources said that two trapped militants have been killed, A senior official told that during exchange of fire two soldiers from 44 RR also received injuries and were shifted to hospital.

Police sources said that there were inputs about the presence of two militants in the village. Reports identified the killed militants as Asif Ahmad Lone of Turkawangam Shopian who went missing in the middle of June this year and Amir Hassan Bhat of Malbagh Shopian who joined militant ranks last month.
Meanwhile, joint forces fired tear smoke shells to disperse youth who pelted stones on them in outer cordon area.

The operation was underway till the filing of this report though firing has stopped.(KNT)