Six JeM militants killed in twin encounters in J&K

NT Correspondent

Srinagar: As JK Police on Thursday said that militants who targeted a police bus this month in Srinagar have been gunned down, Kashmir Police Chief has claimed that the number of local militants for the first time is below 100 in Valley.

A total of six Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, including two from Pakistan, were killed in two separate encounters that took place on Wednesday evening in South Kashmir.

Police said encounters took place in the Anantnag and Kulgam districts and three militants each were killed in two gunfights. One Army man who had sustained injuries also succumbed to his injuries in the Anantnag encounter.

Addressing media, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Thursday said slain militants Altaf and one Pakistani identified as Sultan alias Rayees alias Mavia killed in Anantnag operation, along with another militant Suhail Rather “were involved in the gruesome terrorist attack at Zewan Srinagar, in which 03 policemen attained martyrdom and 11 police personnel were injured.”

“It is also for the first time in the history that the number of local terrorists is below 100 – at 85 or 86,” he said. He also said that this year, 128 locals have joined militant ranks of which 73 have been killed in encounters. He said that 11 hardcore terrorists were killed in five days by security forces.