Pulwama Army operation ends, two militants killed

Srinagar, Apr 13 (PTI) The two-day long operation in Aglar
village of Pulwama district in India's northern state Jammu
and Kashmir ended Monday with the killing of another militant
of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JEM) outfit, a senior
police officer said.

"The operation at Aglar village has ended. Bodies of both
the militants were recovered from the scene of the gun battle
during search operations Monday," Senior superintendent of
Police, Pulwama Rafiq-ul-Hassan told PTI.

While one of the militants was killed in the early hours
of fighting Sunday, the second militant was killed late
Monday night, he said.

An army captain was also injured in the gun battle while
two houses, where the militants had taken shelter, were
damaged in the encounter.

The SSP identified the slain militants as self-styled
group commander of JEM, Babar and his close associate Afaq,
both residents of Pakistan.

Two AK assault rifles, ammunition and grenades were
recovered from the possession of the slain militants, he said.

Soon after the search operation was called off, people
assembled at the scene of the gun battle and participated in
the 'Nimaz-e-Jinazah' (prayer before burial) of the slain
militants, official sources said.

The encounter started early Sunday when security forces
cordoned off the village following specific information
about the presence of militants, the sources said.

Finding themselves trapped, the militants opened fire on
the joint search party, injuring a captain who was leading
the operation, the sources said.

In retaliatory action, one militant was killed while
another went into a house and took shelter. When the house was
damaged, the militant shifted to a nearby house and continued
firing on the security forces, the source said.

The gun battle continued throughout Sunday during which
deafening sounds of explosions and gunfire rattled the
village, the sources said.

After a lull in firing from the militant late Sunday
night, the security forces suspended the operation but
strengthened the cordon around the scene of the gun battle to
prevent him escaping, the sources said.

The sources said the operation was resumed this morning
with a burst of probing fire by security forces. Following no
response from the militant, the security forces moved in and
later recovered his dead body from the house.

The bodies of both the militants were later laid to rest
at the local graveyard, the sources said.