Two Kashmiri terrorists affiliated to the Hizbul Mujahideen group were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Thursday.

Following specific information about militant presence in Bijbehara town, the security forces had surrounded the Baghander Mohalla late on Wednesday.

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At daybreak, the terrorists were challenged and they fired back triggering the encounter.

The slain militants were identified as 25-year-old Kashmiri men Safder Amin Bhat from Bijbehara itself and Burhan Ahmad Ganie of Malipora Hablish in Kulgam. Ganie according to the police, was a student of physiotherapy who had joined the course after doing his 12th class and joined terrorism in June last year. Bhat had joined the HM in May 2017. One AK rifle and one SLR has been recovered near their bodies.

Incriminating material including arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. The police have registered a case.

Searches were underway in the area and mobile Internet services have been suspended in the district as a precautionary measure.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Indian Army had said the crackdown on terrorists in the Valley has brought down the recruitment of local Kashmiri people in terror outfits.