Tral encounter: Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists killed by security forces

Two to three local Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorists are believed to be trapped in the area

SRINAGAR: The security forces on Tuesday killed at least two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in an overnight encounter which broke out in Tral area of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

News agency ANI confirmed that two terrorists have been killed in the ongoing Tral encounter.  

Jammu & Kashmir: Two terrorists killed in the ongoing encounter between security forces and terrorists in Tral. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/WiGLtiLWBg — ANI (@ANI) 5 March 2019

One civilian also sustained bullet injuries, said media reports. The encounter lasted for nearly 13 hours. 

A massive search and combing operation was also launched by the security forces in the Mir locality of Tral after the encounter ended.

Jammu & Kashmir: Encounter underway between security forces and terrorists in Tral. More details awaited. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/e8lu8WCivb — ANI (@ANI) 5 March 2019

Sharing more details of the Tral encounter, Neeraj Pandey, Commander Officer, 43 RR, later said, ''Two terrorists were neutralised today. Two AK-47s and other war-like stores were recovered from them. Both the terrorists were associated with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).''

Neeraj Pandey, Commander Officer, 43 RR on Tral encounter: Two terrorists were neutralised today, two AK-47s and other war-like stores were recovered from them. Both the terrorists were associated with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). pic.twitter.com/zaUDLfW87V — ANI (@ANI) 5 March 2019

After a brief lull, gunshots were heard during the night, said the officials.

"A brief exchange of fire took place between security forces and terrorists during the night," a police spokesman said.

Three to four local Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorists were initially believed to be hiding in the area.

After receiving specific inputs about the presence of terrorists in the Mir locality, a joint operation was launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF and the army.

The security forces then cordoned off the entire area and launched an operation to flush out the terrorists hiding in the area.

Authorities had suspended mobile Internet services in the town.