Srinagar: A militant was killed while another surrendered before security forces during an overnight encounter in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. However along with the militant a civilian also lost his life, police said Friday.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Lalpora area of Pampore in the south Kashmir district Thursday. They had specific information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said as the search operation was going on, militants fired indiscriminately, resulting in injuries to two persons. The injured persons were rushed to a hospital where one of them succumbed to injuries Friday morning, he added.
The security forces maintained a tight cordon of the area throughout the night. In the exchange of fire Friday morning, one militant was killed, the official said. He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militant was being ascertained.
Also read: Narendra Modi condemns killing of 3 BJP workers in J&K by militants
Meanwhile, another militant, a local, surrendered before the forces during the operation, the official said. The operation is still underway as two more militants are still expected to be at the hideout, he added.
This is the second time in two months that a civilian has been killed in the valley during encounter with militants. Police however, have blamed the militants and stated that they started firing indiscriminately.