One militant, Army officer killed in Anantnag encounter

Official sources said that following specific information about presence of militants at Bidroo Akingam in Anantnag, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint search operation early this morning.

“All the exit points were sealed,” an official said, adding when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village, militants hiding there, opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons. “The fire was returned ensuing in an encounter.”

The sources said a militant was killed and his body was recovered, adding arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.

However, when security forces were searching the area there was fresh firing from militants still hiding there. Four soldiers, including two officers, were injured in the exchange of fire, who were later shifted to Army hospital.

They said the officer succumbed to his injured at the hospital.

The operation was still going on when the reports last came in.

Earlier it was reported that two militants were killed.

Internet mobile service has been suspended in the area.

Additional security forces and state police personnel have been deployed outside the cordoned off areas to prevent demonstrations, official sources said.