LOC19:49
16:49 GMT
NEW DELHI, July 10 (KUNA) -- Indian police said on Tuesday that the security forces gunned down two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants during an encounter in Shopian district of north Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Press Trust of India quoted a local police spokesperson as saying a joint patrolling party of security forces came under attack from militants hiding in Kundallan area of Shopian while a search operation was on there following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the region.
In the ensuing encounter, two Jaish-e-Mohammad operatives including Pakistani national Babar and a local resident named Sameer Ahmad Sheikh were gunned down.
The encounter also triggered protests by the local residents as they came pelting stones against the forces.
Clashes between the security forces and the local residents also resulted in the killing of a civilian and injured 20 others.
This came days after the killing of three civilians as the security forces fired upon protesters in Kulgam district of the state on Saturday. New Delhi accuses Islamabad of supporting and funding the armed groups in Kashmir, claims which Islamabad denies. (end)
atk.bs