Nine militants have been killed in the last 24 hours in two separate gunfights in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, a senior police officer said on Monday. While five were killed in a six-hour-long operation in Reban village on Sunday evening, four more were killed in Pinjora area on Monday morning. The two sites are about 12 km away from each other, reported Hindustan Times.

“9 #terrorists including two commanders neutralised in less than 24 hrs,” tweeted the Kashmir zone police. “Proud of #Team Kashmir which includes JKP and SFs. Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir.”

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh told ANI that the security forces have eliminated 22 militants, including six top commanders, in nine operations in the last two weeks. He added that there could be around 150-250 militants in the Kashmir region and 125-150 in Jammu region.

Pinjora gunfight

A gunfight broke out in Pinjora area of Shopian on Monday morning when militants hiding in the area fired upon the security forces and they retaliated, said the police. Four suspected militants were killed in the gunfight.

The operation is still under way, the Army said in a statement.

Operation in Reban village

Five suspected militants were killed on Sunday during the gunfight with security forces. “Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered,” the police had tweeted.

The operation, which went on for six hours, was launched after police officials received inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

“In the ensuing encounter, 05 terrorists were killed and their bodies have been retrieved from the site of encounter,” the police said in a statement. The identification and affiliation of the killed terrorists is being ascertained. However as per credible sources the killed terrorists belonged to proscribed HM terrorist outfit and one among the killed terrorists is believed to be a top commander.

The gunfight reportedly resulted in a tense situation in the area that was brought under control with the deployment of additional forces and suspension of internet, according to NDTV. “No collateral damage has occurred during the operation,” Vijay Kumar, the inspector general of police of Kashmir Zone told ANI.