Two suspected militants were killed and two soldiers were injured during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday, ANI reported. Security officials were conducting a search and cordon operation in Drabgam area when the militants fired at them.

Security forces had received intelligence inputs about the presence of suspected militants in the area.

The police identified the two militants as Sameer Ahmad Bhat alias Sameer Tiger and Aqib Mushtaq Khan, both residents of Pulwama, and members of the Hizbul Mujahideen group.

State Director General of Police SP Vaid said Tiger was involved in the murder of several civilians, including that of Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Patel on April 25, according to the Hindustan Times.

A civilian was also killed and 15 were injured when clashes erupted between residents and security forces, Greater Kashmir reported.