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Srinagar: Three local militants were killed in an encounter between joint forces and militants in south Kashmir's Shopian district on Wednesday, police said.
The gunfight erupted last evening at Sugan village of Zainapora when joint teams launched a search operation in the area following a specific input about militant presence.
A senior police officer said, after the presence of militants were established, they were repeatedly asked to surrender.
"They refused and fired upon forces," he said.
A police spokesman said due to darkness, the operation was suspended and the whole area was put under strict cordon.
"Terrorists trapped inside made certain attempts to break the cordon and escape from the spot. In the wee hours, the operation was resumed and in the ensuing encounter three terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter," a police spokesman said.
Meanwhile, J&K Director General of Police (J&K) Dilbag Singh on Wednesday said that the militant killed in Ganderbal during an attack on a BJP leader Tuesday evening was the close aide of slain Hizbul Mujahideen chief operational commander Reyaz Naikoo.
A policeman Altaf Hussain who was guarding the BJP politician was also killed in the attack. The District Vice President of BJP Ghulam Qadir Rather, however, survived the bid on his life.
The DGP identified the slain militant as Shabir of Awantipore Pulwama.