An army jawan was also killed in the fierce shelling on Friday. Fearing protests in the surrounding areas, the authorities have suspended internet services in the entire Pulwama district.
Officials say the security forces have killed at least ten militants, including two top Lashkar commanders, in various encounters during the last four days.
According to a police spokesman, a joint operation team of local police, army and paramilitary forces had surrounded Hanjan Rajpora village in Pulwama district late on Thursday night.
Siege based on input
“The siege was based on intelligence input about the presence of five extremists. As soon as the security forces reached the input site, the extremists opened fire and tried to escape. Later, more forces Called in and the village was sealed but an army man was injured in the initial firing. He was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.”
Jammu and Kashmir Police has confirmed the killing of five militants, including Lashkar’s District Commander Nishaz Lone, in Pulwama.
“One of the five militants killed in the encounter is a Pakistani national,” the police officer said.
According to the police, the house where the armed militants were hiding had caught fire during the encounter.
After about 20 hours on Friday afternoon, when the encounter ended, a large number of people gathered around the house.
Infiltration stopped, extremists on target
A person present at the scene said, “We tried to save some important things, but here everything is a pile of ashes.”
Valley Police Chief Vijay Kumar termed the latest deaths as a “huge success” for the security forces in Kashmir.
Ever since India and Pakistan agreed to strengthen ceasefire agreements along the Line of Control in 2003, military operations against extremists have intensified across Kashmir.
66 militants have been killed in various operations since January this year.
“We have killed ten extremists, including two top Lashkar commanders, in the last four days,” the official said.
Army Chief General MM Naravane had said on Thursday that the renewed ceasefire with Pakistan is progressing well along the long and mountainous Line of Control.
During a briefing in New Delhi on Thursday, General Naravane said, “There has been no infiltration along the Line of Control after the ceasefire.”
