Two terrorists affiliated with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad were gunned down in an overnight encounter in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday.
A senior police officer said the encounter broke out in Rajpora area of Awantipora in Pulwama district on Monday evening when a joint team of the police, army and CRPF launched a cordon and a search operation.
"As the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hidden terrorists fired indiscriminately, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. In the ensuing gun battle, two terrorists were killed," a police official said.
The J&K Police identified the slain terrorists as Shahid Rather of Tral and Umar Yousuf of Shopian. They were associated with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Police said Shahid was involved in killing of a woman, Shakeela, and a government employee, Javaid Ahmad. Police said arms and ammunition including 2 AK-47 rifles were recovered from the site of the encounter.
Over the last one week, security forces have intensified anti-militancy operations. Since May 25, security forces have shot dead 16 militants in gunfights across Kashmir.
On Monday, security forces shot dead two local Jaish militants in a gun battle in neighbouring Pulwama.
At least 27 terrorists have been gunned down by security forces during the month of May this year.
The joint teams of security forces killed these militants in 15 gunfights across Kashmir Valley.
According to official data, 36 persons, including security forces personnel, were killed in terror-related incidents in May. The list includes 27 terrorists, five civilians, three J&K policemen and an army porter.
A civlian Shahid Gani Dar of Pandoshan Shopian was killed in Pandoshan encounter when terrorists escaped from the spot while the killing of other civilian Shoaib Ahmed Ganaie took place in Turkwangam of Shopian, sparking protests which prompted authorities to order a magisterial inquiry.
The killing of 27 militants is the largest number in a month in the current year. In April this number was 24 followed by 20 in January, 13 in March, and 7 in February.