3 terrorists killed during encounter in Shopian's Amshipora village in Jammu and Kashmir; search operation underway

A search operation by a joint team of J&K Police, RR and CRPF turned into an encounter after the hiding terrorists from the cowshed of a lone house in an orchard opened fire at them.

Srinagar: Security forces on Saturday (July 18) gunned down three terrorists during an encounter that broke out in the wee hours today in Amshipora village of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir. Identities and terror group affiliations of the slain terrorists are yet to be carried out.

A search operation was underway in the area when the last report came. This was the second operation in the last 24 hours. 

"So far 03 #unidentified #terrorists killed. #Operation going on. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice," the Kashmir Police tweeted earlier.

According to reports, a joint team of Kashmir Police, 62 RR  and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in the wee hours of Saturday in Amshipora village after forces received specific inputs about the presence of a few terrorists in the area. As per the inputs, 3-4 terrorists were believed to be hiding inside a house in the orchard.

The search operation turned into an encounter after the hiding terrorists opened fire at the forces from the cowshed of the lone house in an orchard. 

The forces retaliated to the gunfire thus ensuing a gunbattle between the two sides.

On July 17, three terrorists, including a self-styled top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), were killed and two security personnel injured in an encounter in the Kulgam district. Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar at a press conference said one of the militants had been identified as Waleed Bhai, a commander of JeM and an IED expert, while the identity of the other two was being ascertained.

"Waleed Bhai had escaped from the cordon (of the security forces) four times so far. He was among the 12 most wanted militant commanders," he said, adding that the forces recovered a US-made M-4 carbine from him.

So far, the forces have neutralised at least 133 terrorists in Kashmir this year.