Encounter Underway Between Terrorists, Security Forces In Kashmir's Awantipora

An encounter is underway between terrorists and security forces at Awantipora area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said. According to reports, the encounter broke out at around 9 am when security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the on a credible input. Some reports claimed that 2-3 terrorists are believed to be trapped.

He said as the forces were conducting searches in the area, the terrorists fired upon them triggering an encounter. The exchange of firing was going on when last reports came in, the officer said.

Pulwama encounter: Slain terrorist identified

Meanwhile, the terrorist killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Wednesday has been identified as a Pakistani national affiliated to proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit.

The "most wanted" terrorist was operating under code names "Abu Saifullah" and "Abu Qasim" and was active in militancy-infested south Kashmir for the past over one and a half years, he said.

The officer said the Saifullah was wanted in connection with the abduction and killing of two civilians and threatening special police officers (SPOs) and non-local labourers.

A close associate of self-styled Jaish chief commander Qari Yasir of Pakistan, who was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district in July 2013, Saifullah was trapped along with his local associate during a search and cordon operation at Zaintrag village in the Awantipora area of Pulwama on Tuesday morning, he said.

With PTI Inputs