Two brigades, deployed after Kashmir unrest, move out of state

NEW DELHI: Two infantry brigades, that were deployed following unrest in Kashmir Valley last September, have been moved out of the state.

The pull out has been completed in January and any decision on their redeployment will depend of the ground situation, sources said.

The Valley had witnessed widespread protests following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in July, 2016.

The additional two brigades comprising 6,000 personnel, which operated along with Rashtriya Rifles, were deployed as part of ‘Operation Calmdown’ to restore normalcy.

The troops were deployed in areas across Kupwara, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama districts in South Kashmir.

Meanwhile, two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants and a civilian were killed during a nine-hour gunbattle between the ultras and the security forces in Awantipora area of Pulwama district today. (AGENCIES)