Srinagar, Oct 18: The encounter between security forces and militants following yesterday`s abortive suicide attack on J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed`s house ended this morning after the troops shot dead both the ultras holed up in a nearby shopping complex. Five BSF personnel, including an officer, were wounded in the operation to flush out the holed up militants.
The bodies of the two ultras had been recovered, the officials said adding security forces were now searching the shopping complex to look for any more body or survivors.
The first militant was killed at 0800 hrs when he tried to escape from the complex.
The second, who put up a stiff resistance, was finally eliminated at around 10:15 am ending more than five-hour-long gunbattle.
As the gunfight raged, two civilians of Nepali origin were evacuated from the shopping complex. During the gunbattle, militants hurled grenades at security forces who retaliated by firing mortar shells.
The two killed militants had yesterday made an abortive bid to storm the chief minister`s residence but were forced to take shelter in the nearby shopping complex when security forces challenged them.
The militant strike had left two BSF personnel dead and 12 others wounded.
Lal Chowk and its adjoining areas, the commercial hub, were thrown open to public soon after security forces neutralised both the militants.
All entry points to these areas were sealed yesterday after the two militants took refuge in the shopping complex.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed lauded the role of police and security forces in ensuring the safety of civilians during the operation.
Expressing resolve to carry forward his mission to put the state back on the track of normalcy, Sayeed said militants were desperate to carry out such attacks to derail the peace process.
The entire operation was supervised on the spot by senior police and paramilitary officials, including Director General of Police Gopal Sharma Bureau Report