Two militants killed in Anantnag encounter

SRINAGAR: Two militants have been killed by security forces in the 36-hour gunbattle in Bijebhara area of Anantnag district of Kashmir which ended today.

The bodies of the two militants were recovered from the debris of the house at Arwani in Bijbehara area this morning after security forces blew up the building using explosives, a police official said.

He said one of the bodies was severely burnt.

However, an army official said they were still sifting through the debris and a final statement on the incident will be issued once the operation was called off.

One army jawan was injured in the gunfight that began in the early hours yesterday.

Security forces had cordoned off the area on Wednesday evening following information about presence of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants there.

A 24-year-old youth died allegedly after being wounded by a "stray bullet" near the site of encounter.

Arif Shah, a resident of Sangam area of Anantnag district, was hit when security forces were dealing with a group which was indulging in stone-pelting near the encounter site, the official said.

However, locals alleged that Shah was killed in security forces action against protesters.