Jammu and Kashmir: Militant gunned down in south Kashmir's Verinag forests

Security forces killed one militant in Vernag forests in Anantnag district. Earlier, an encounter had started between security forces and militants after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Kapran forest area early Monday morning.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): A militant was killed on Monday in a gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, police said.

The gunfight broke out between the security forces and militants in Verinag forests in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, this morning and the operation is still underway.

"A joint team of security forces launched a cordon and search operation after an input about the militants' presence. As the search was being carried out, the hiding militants fired at the security forces, which retaliated, triggering a gunfight," a senior police official told ETV Bharat.

"Two-three militants including a top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen are believed to be present. A militant has been killed so far and the operation is currently underway," he said.

The identity militants will be ascertained after the operation is over and bodies are retrieved, he added.

This comes after four militants including a Pakistani national were gunned down in two separate gunfights at Srinagar and Kulgam.

Earlier, a militant was killed on June 20 in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, security forces neutralised a total of eight terrorists in two parallel operations stretched over two days in Pulwama and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir in past one week.

While a total of three Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) terrorists were eliminated in Pulwama, a mixed group of five JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists were neutralised by forces in Shopian.

PTI