New Delhi: Two local terrorists affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijbehara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Thursday morning. 

While one slain militant was identified as Burhan-ud-Din Ganie, a student pursuing bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy, the other one has been identified as Safdar Amin, a class 9 pass out and a resident of Zirora in Bijbehara.

The duo was killed in a gunfight, which ensued after the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles and Kashmir Police SoG launched a cordon and search operation in Baagandar Mohalla following inputs about the presence of the militants in the area.

Reports said that soon after the searches were intensified, the militants opened fire at the security personnel, who retaliated immediately. 

Police in a statement said the two bodies have been recovered from the site. A police spokesperson said that Safder was 25-years-old and had joined HM in May 2017, while Burhan alias Saifullah was an active member of HM since June 24, 2018.

Aftermath 

If reports are to be believed, thousands of people attended the funerals of the slain militants 

Witnesses said that people from different areas of Anantnag district poured in to attend the funeral of Burhan-ud-din at SK Colony in Anantnag. They said that multiple funeral prayers were offered before Burhan was laid to rest.

Reports said that similar scenes were witnessed at Zirpora in Bijbehara where Safdar was laid to rest. 

According to official figures, 71 militants have already been killed this year. Last year the number of militants neutralised reached 272. Post-Pulwama attack, 41 militants, including 25 Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, have been killed.

Army sources said that after stringent action against terrorists in the valley number of stone pelting incidents, recruitment and casualties of civilians have gone down in Kashmir valley.

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