Four terrorists were killed and a policeman martyred in an encounter between the terrorists and the security forces early on Friday morning in Anantnag’s Srigufwara area in Jammu-Kashmir. The encounter also left a civilian dead and another injured.

J-K DGP SP Vaid said that the terrorists belonged to the Islamic State Jammu & Kashmir (ISJK). He said that an operation was launched following information about the presence of the 3-4 terrorists in the area.

Terrorists reportedly affiliated to ISJK.

— Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) June 22, 2018

Two more bodies of terrorists recovered, taking total number to 4. https://t.co/ws9OsU8cQU

— Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) June 22, 2018

One of the terrorists killed has been identified as Dawood, a top commander of the outfit.

The police jawan killed in the encounter was a member of the special operations group (SOG) of the J-K police. Three other security personnel were injured.

Militants opened fire at security forces when the latter were conducting a cordon and search operation in the area located in south Kashmir. Police said there was specific intelligence input about the presence of militants in the area.

Security forces retaliated to the firing from the militants thus turning the search operation into a gunfight.

“As the security forces tightened the cordon around hiding militants, they fired, triggering an encounter which is underway,” a police officer said.

Reports say that dozens of youth started pelting stones at the security forces some distance from the encounter site. Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in the district to check spread of any kind of rumours.

The gunfight is the first major operation launched since the state came under Governor’s Rule. On 20 June, the day the state came under Governor’s Rule, security personnel from the police, CRPF and Indian Army killed three terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants in Tral area of Pulwama district.

On 18 June, security forces had neutralised four terrorists in Bandipora immediately after the end of the Ramzan ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Governor NN Vohra on Wednesday directed security forces to ramp up anti-terrorist operations in the state during the Amarnath Yatra, the route of which passes through militancy hotbed of south Kashmir. The Yatra begins on 28 June and will continue for 60 days.