Srinagar: Three militants were killed in separate encounters with security forces on Friday in Shopian and Bandipora districts of Jammu and Kashmir, taking the number of ultras killed over the past 24 hours to five, officials said.
Two militants were killed in an overnight gunbattle in Hajin area of Bandipora district, an army official said.
The operation against the militants was started on Thursday but the security forces had to proceed with caution as two civilians had been taken hostage by the ultras, police said.
While one civilian was rescued Thursday evening, the other hostage – reportedly a minor – might have been killed during the operation, a police official said on condition of anonymity.
A police spokesman said a detailed statement on the operation will be issued very soon but did not elaborate about the fate of the civilian hostage.
A militant was killed today in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district. The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Imamsahib area of Shopian in south Kashmir following information about presence of militants there, the army official said.