Srinagar, August 24: At least three militants were killed in an encounter in north Kashmir’s Sopore, police said.

In a statement, the police said that during the intervening night of 23/24 August, based on specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in Pethseer area of Sopore, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Sopore Police, Army(52RR ) and CRPF in the said area.

During the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained, They were given opportunity to surrender, however, instead they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter.

The statement further stated that however due to darkness the operation was suspended, while the cordon was kept intact. In the wee hours, repeated announcements were again made to the hiding militants to surrender, but the militants again fired on joint search party and the fire was retaliated.

In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Faisal Fayaz son of Fayaz Ah Thokar resident of Kapren Shopian, Gh Mustafa Sheikh son of Abdul Ahad Sheikh resident of Tekipura Kupwara and Rameez Ah Ghanie son of Ab Majeed Ghanie resident of Zipor Dharamati, Shopian, affiliated with militant outfit LeT (TRF), they said.

As per police records, the killed militants were part of groups involved in “several terror crime cases including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities”, they said.

Incriminating materials, arms ( one AK 47 rifle & two pistols) and ammunition including 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, they said.

In this connection, Police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated, they said.

“Pertinently, the collective efforts of J&K Police, Army, CRPF & people of Kashmir Valley have led to neutralisation of more than 100 militants in the current year so far in Kashmir division” said by IGP Kashmir.

Meanwhile Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that 102 militants have been killed so far in Valley this year including three militants in today’s Sopore Encounter.