J&K: Three terrorists killed in Shopian encounter; situation still tense

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir killed three terrorists during an encounter on Friday which erupted in the wee hours after specific inputs about their presence in Imam Sahab area of restive Shopian district in south Kashmir.

Sources told WION that a search operation was launched by a joint team of 34 Rashtriya Rifles, a counter-insurgency forces of the Indian army, Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF. Soon an exchange of fire broke out in which one army man also sustained injuries.

The sources added that top Hizbul-Mujahideen commander and the last surviving terrorists of the former commander Burhan Wani group, Latief Tiger, was among the killed in the encounter. Apart from him, sources say two other terrorists were also killed including Tariq Moulvi. However, there was no confirmation from the forces about their identity.

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The clashes have erupted around the encounter spot between protestors and security forces after the encounter broke out. Mobile internet, train service between Srinagar-Banihal will also remain shut given the situation.

The last leg of Anantnag Lok Sabha election is scheduled to be held in the district on Monday and the encounter has made the situation difficult for the administration. The Election Commission had decided to hold elections in three phases for the one seat, in a first since the independence of India, given the fragile situation in south Kashmir.

All the terrorists who appeared with Hizbul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in a group picture that was circulated in 2015 on social media have been killed by forces now. One among them, Tariq Pandit was captured alive by the security forces earlier in 2016.