41.17% polling recorded in J&K till 1 pm
A total 41.17 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm on Wednesday in the first phase of Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir, said the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K.
Three days before polling in the Shopian segment of the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, the security forces eliminated the Burhan Wani group’s last surviving terrorist and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Lateef Tiger and two others in a brief encounter on Friday.
The terrorists were reportedly hiding in the area ready to strike during the polling in the two segments, Shopian and Pulwama, on 6 May.
Security forces got credible report about the plans of the terrorists and cordoned the area.
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According to Army spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, the security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Imam Sahib area of Shopian district in south Kashmir in the morning.
A joint team of 34Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF and Special Operations Group (SOG) launched an operation in the area. As the cordon was tightened, the terrorists opened fire at the security forces triggering the encounter.
The other two slain terrorists have been identified as Tariq Molvi and Sharik Ahmad, both from Shopian.
Warlike stores of arms and ammunition have been recovered from the spot.
About 20 stone-pelters were injured in clashes with security forces.
Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter in 2016 in south Kashmir triggering a violent agitation in Kashmir valley that went on for days.
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