Five militants in Shopian and Phulwama

As many as five militants and two each civilian and security personnel died in two separate gunbattles with forces in Pulwama and Shopian districts on Thursday. No casualties were reported in a third shootout reported in the valley.

Srinagar: Five militants and two each civilians soldiers were killed in two separate gunbattles in Pulwama and Shopian districts of Kashmir Valley on Thursday.

Three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, including a top commander identified as a Pakistan national Khalid Bhai, a civilian and a soldier were killed in Dalipora village of Pulwama during an operation by security forces.

Police said Khalid Bhai was a key face among killed terrorists as he masterminded the 2017 attack on the Lethpora CRPF camp in Pulwama district in which five troopers were killed.

No casualties were reported in a third shootout between the security forces and militants in Kupwara's Kandi forests on Thursday.