2 militants, associate killed in Awantipora gunfight

Pulwama: Two militants along with their associate were Saturday morning killed in a gunfight that broke out between government forces and militants in Goripora village of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday morning.
An official said bodies were recovered from the encounter spot and the slain are being identified. Jammu and Kashmir police in a tweet also confirmed that two unidentified militants and one “hardcore associate” of militants were killed in an encounter at Goripora, Awantipora.
Earlier, on a specific input about the presence of militants, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched in the area by joint team of forces including 50 RR and Awantipora Police. During the searches, the hiding militants fired upon forces, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter, the official said.
Pertinently, this was the fourth encounter in South Kashmir in last eight days that saw killing of 10 militants and their one associate. On Friday, evening two militants were killed and police man received injuries in a brief shootout in Kharpora Arwani area of Anantnag district while as abducted policeman was rescued during the operation.
On 22 April, four militants of Ansar Gazwatul Hind were killed in an encounter at Melhoora, Shopian. And on April 17, two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter at Dairoo Keegam in Shopian district