3 militants killed in Budgam

Srinagar, January 21

Three unidentified militants were killed in a nearly daylong gunfight in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Monday, officials said.

Following information about the presence of militants in the area, a gunfight broke around 9.30 am when the joint teams of forces were carrying out searches at Hapatnar in Charar-i-Sharief, nearly 40 km from Srinagar.

“As the searches were being carried out in the forest area, the hiding militants fired at the forces. The firing was retaliated. In the gunfight that continued for many hours, three militants were killed,” a police officer said.

“Their identities and affiliations are being ascertained,” he said, adding that incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, was recovered from the encounter site.

Meanwhile, there were reports of stone-throwing near the encounter site. Additional forces were deployed to handle the law and order situation. Forces also blasted the hideout of the militants in the forest area. — TNS