Jammu and Kashmir: Encounter breaks out in Shopian, two militants gunned down

Two militants were gunned down in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday, according to news agency ANI. The gunfight broke out earlier today in Rebban area, where security forces had suspected presence of militants. However, identities of the killed militants are yet to be ascertained.  

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“Based on a credible input about the presence of terrorists, a cordon and search operation was launched by police and security forces at the strike of dawn today in Rebban area of Zainapora in District Shopian,” Kashmir police said.

“As search operation was going on, search party was fired upon by the hiding terrorists. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed,” the police said.

As search operation was going on, search party was fired upon by the hiding terrorists. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, 2 terrorists were killed&bodies were retrieved from site of encounter. Identities are being ascertained: J&K Police

— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018

Militants on Saturday abducted and brutally killed a 19-year-old man, identified Huzaif Ashraf, in Kashmir's Shopian, the police said. This incident came less than 48 hours after a 17-year-old youth was abducted from a village in Shopian and killed by militants in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday night. Police said that the youth’s bullet-riddled body was found in Pulwama’s Niklora village.

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"Terrorists Saturday killed a civilian in a brutal act of terror in Shopian district after he was kidnapped earlier in the day from Saidpora area," a police official said. The police Ashraf's  throat-slit body was found from an orchard area in Hermain village of the south Kashmir district. A baker by profession,  Ashraf  was a resident of Manzgam area of the neighbouring Kulgam district.