The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday said four militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district.

The gunfight took place during a cordon-and-search operation in the Dar Mohalla Watarigam area of Dialgam village in south Kashmir after the security personnel received specific inputs about the presence of militants there, PTI reported.

The search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon the forces.

Those killed were identified as Muzaffar Ahmed Bhat, the district commander of proscribed terror-outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, Omar Ameen Bhat, and Sajad Ahmed Bhat – also affiliated with LeT, and Gulzar Ahmed Bhat, associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen.

“During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired upon the joint search party,” a statement from the police said. “The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the encounter, four terrorists were killed. Two AK 47 rifles, two pistols, ammunition and other incriminating materials have been recovered from the site of encounter.”