Security forces killed two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Handwara on Tuesday, the police said. A defence spokesperson said the encounter took place in Kupwara district’s Galoora area. They were identified as as Furqan Rashid Lone and Liyaqat Ahmad Lone.

An official said the encounter followed a cordon and search operation based on inputs about the presence of militants in the area. During the search operation, the militants opened fire and security personnel retaliated, the police said. “Arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of encounter,” the spokesperson said.

Lone’s family members said that he had gone missing from home earlier this year and joined militancy, PTI reported. The family received news of death while his sister’s wedding celebrations were underway at his house in Sopore. Lone’s body was handed over to the family late in the afternoon.

Authorities directed telecom companies to suspend internet services and ordered temporary schools in Handwara and all higher secondary schools in Mawar and Langate zones to shut for the day as a precautionary measure, Greater Kashmir reported.