Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, May 15: Three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district today.
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Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Nader Tral area of Awantipora in Pulwama district after receiving specific inputs about the presence of terrorists there.
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The search operation turned into a gunfight after the terrorists opened fire at the security forces, who retaliated.
“The three terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire, an official said.
“The eliminated terrorists have been identified as Asif Ahmed Sheikh, Amir Nazir Wani and Yawar Ahmed Bhat, from whom three AK-series rifles, 12 magazines, three grenades and various other war like stores have been recovered,” he said.
He said the terrorists belonged to the proscribed JeM.
Speaking to reporters near the encounter site, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, V K Birdi termed the killing of the three as a significant development in the fight against terror.
“These are the significant developments in our resolve and fight against terrorism,” he said.
“During the operation, the terrorists were engaged, resulting in the death of three terrorists near the debris,” Birdi said. “This is part of an all-out effort to dismantle the terror ecosystem operating in the region. The swift action by security forces aims to keep the situation under control.”
The official said the elimination of these terrorists, along with the recovery of arms and ammunition, is a big blow to their operational capabilities in south Kashmir. He said the terrorists involved in multiple attacks over recent months were neutralised, and a large cache of arms was recovered from the site.
Notably, the houses of terrorists Asif and Aamir were demolished last month following the killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam.
It is important to note that six terrorists have been killed in south Kashmir in the last 48 hours, including the three local JeM terrorists in the Shukro Keller encounter.
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