Srinagar, Jul 01: The army Thursday said that 61 militants have been killed in various anti-militancy operations in Kashmir since January this year..

“A total of 61 militants have been killed by the government forces in Kashmir this year”, defence spokesman in Srinagar, Lieutenant Colonel Emron Muail said. He said that figure includes the three militants killed recently in a gunfight at South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

He said that based on specific intelligence input on presence of a group of militants in Chimmer area of Kulgam district, a joint cordon was laid and “operation Chimmer_ was launched by Kulgam based Rashtriya Rifles, JKP & CRPF at around 11:30 PM on June 30”.

He said that while laying an initial cordon at approximately 1:00 PM around the suspected area, militants opened fire from a house on the troops and an encounter ensued.

“During the initial exchange of fire, two militants were eliminated and later, a third militant was also killed. One AK-47 and two pistols and other war like stores were recovered from the slain,” he said adding that the strict restraint was exercised throughout the operation to avoid any collateral damage. kno