Srinagar, May 28: Two militants affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) outfit were killed in a brief gunfight between militants and government forces in Sheetipora village of Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday evening.

A senior police official said that  acting on a specific input, joint  team of police, Army’s 3 RR and CRPF after receiving information about the presence of militants launched search operation in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces intensified searches towards suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the party, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter.

He said that during exchange of fire two local militants affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen were killed and both were involved in several militancy related cases.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that slain duo were identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Ganie, a  resident of Chakwangund, Anantnag and Yawar Ayub Dar of Dogripora Awantipora were involved in several militancy related cases.

“Killed militants identified as Ishfaq Ah Ganie R/O Chakwangund, #Anantnag & Yawar Ayub Dar R/O Dogripora, #Awantipora, affiliated with proscribed militant outfit HM. The duo were involved in several #terror crimes,” Kashmir Police zone tweeted, quoting IGP Kashmir.

Pertinently, 12 militants including six locals and six non-locals were killed in Kashmir valley in last four days.

On 25 May, three non-local militants affiliated with JeM and a cop was killed in a chance encounter in Kreeri area of Baramulla.  On 26 May, three non-local LeT militants and an army porter was killed in an encounter in Kupwara district. Two newly recruited local militants affiliated with LeT namely Shahid Mushtaq Bhat from Hafroo Chadoora and Farhan Habib from Hakripora Pulwama who according to police killed TV artist Amreen Bhat were killed in an encounter in  Aganhanzipora Awantipora on May 27. On same day, two newly recruited LeT militants namely Shakir Ahmed Waza and Afreen Aftab Bhat both residents of Trenz Shopian were killed in an encounter in Soura, Srinagar.kno