Jammu and Kashmir: 6 terrorists killed in Shopian encounter, mobile internet services suspended

As many as six terrorists were killed in an encounter that broke out between the terrorists and the security forces in the Batgund area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district early on Sunday morning, according to news agency ANI. Earlier, the area was under cordon after security forces received a specific input about the presence of terrorists. Mobile internet services have been suspended in the area. 

"Six militants have been killed, four of them belong to Hizbul Mujahideen and two to Lashkar-e-Taiba. Both the district commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar have been killed. We have seized huge cache of arms, the investigation is underway," SP Shopian Sandeep Chaudhary said.

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“Encounter underway between security forces & terrorists in Kapran Batagund area of Shopian district. 2 to 3 terrorists are believed to be trapped,” ANI tweeted.

#JammuAndKashmir: Shopian encounter concludes. Total six terrorists neutralised, one security personnel also died in action. Weapons and warlike stores recovered. pic.twitter.com/RAIm7iw0E1

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2018

#JammuAndKashmir: An encounter is underway between security forces & terrorists in Kapran Batagund area of Shopian district. 4 terrorists have been neutralised. (visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/MvduHcF4BF

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2018

#UPDATE Shopian encounter: Four terrorists have been neutralised in the encounter with security forces. The operation is underway. https://t.co/Pj3Tkhciga

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2018

On Friday, a former special police officer (SPO) Basharat Ahmad Wagay was killed after he was kidnapped by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district. His bullet-riddled body was recovered, hours after he was kidnapped.

On Friday, security forces gunned down six Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, including one, who was accused of killing Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari, in a gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. 

The accused has been identified as Azad Malik and was eliminated in Sekipora area of Bijbhera at the wee hours of Friday. The operation was jointly conducted by Indian Army's 3 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), 166 battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the police force of the state Jammu and Kashmir.

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The other terrorists killed in the ensuing encounter were Unais Shafi, Shahid Bashir, Basit Ishtiyaq, Aqib Najar and Firdous Najar. The security forces launched a cordon and search operation following specific inputs about the presence of terrorists in the woods of Sekipora. The operation turned into a gun battle after terrorists opened fire on the forces.