Security officials shot dead two suspected militants during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore on Thursday, the police said. The encounter broke out during a cordon-and-search operation in Arampora area. The Kashmir Police said the deceased are Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives identified as Ali alias Athar and Zia-ur Rehman.

Internet services in Baramulla district have been suspended, reported ANI.

A police statement said Athar was the mastermind of the improvised explosive device blast that killed four policemen in Sopore in January.

Police have also seized arms, ammunition and other incriminating material from the site of the encounter.

“We are evacuating civilians from the area,” Sopore Senior Superintendent of Police Javed Iqbal told Kashmir Reader. Earlier in the day, the security forces carried out a search operation in Teliyan Mohalla of the town.

Kakriyal encounter

Police said three suspected militants have been killed in an encounter in Kakriyal in the state’s Reasi district. At least 12 security personnel were injured in the encounter, Inspector General of Police SD Singh Jamwal told ANI. “These terrorists were from Pakistan’s Jaish-e-Mohammed,” Singh said, adding that their bodies were recovered.

The encounter followed a search operation in the Jhajjar Kotli area along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway from where the suspected militants fled on Wednesday. The militants escaped after shooting at police personnel who had intercepted the truck they were travelling in.

General Officer Commanding of Uniform Force Major General Arvind Bhatia said the militants infiltrated through the border in Samba district’s Bobiyan area, according to Greater Kashmir.

Eight security officials including Nagrota Sub-Divisional Police Officer Mohan Lal, two policemen and five Central Reserve Police Force officials were injured in the encounter that ended in the evening.