Srinagar, January 22: Two local militants of outfit The Resistance Front (TRF) were killed in a gunfight in Kilbal area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday.

A senior police officer said that two local militants belonging to TRF were killed in a gunfight in Kilbal, their identity will be shared latter in the day.

Earlier, a joint team of Police, army’s 34 and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on the input generated by JK Police in the area.

As the joint team of forces intensified searches towards the target spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces triggering off a gunfight.

Police statement

“Based on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of (militants) in village Kilbal area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Ganderbal/Shopian Police, (army’s) 34RR and 178 stallion CRPF in the area,” a police spokesman said in a statement

During the search operation, he said, as the joint search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired “indiscriminately” upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter.

“In the ensuing encounter, two (militants) of LeT (TRF) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of the encounter.” They have been identified as Sameer Ahmad Shah son of Nazir Ahmad Shah of Dhangam Shopian and Rayees Ahmad Mir son of Mohammad Ashraf Mir Takiya Wahgam Pulwama.

“As per police records, both the killed (militants) were part of group involved in several cases including attacks on security forces and civilians.”

The spokesman claimed that incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.”

Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated.