Security forces kill five terrorists in North Kashmir’s Bandipora


Five Pakistani terrorists were on Friday killed in the ongoing encounter at Shokbaba in the Bandipora district of North Kashmir.

The encounter between security forces and terrorists broke out on Thursday when two terrorists were killed in the evening. Police said that three remaining terrorists were killed today.

Army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that identification of the slain terrorists is being done.

The operation was carried out by a joint team of J-K Police, Indian Army and CRPF. Miscreants had indulged in stone pelting at security forces during the encounter.

The success of the operation against the terrorists came on a day when bullet-riddled bodies of three abducted policemen were found lying in an apple orchard in Shopian district of Kashmir.

The policemen were dragged out of their houses in the early hours by heavily-armed Pakistan-backed terrorists who barged into their homes. The killings created an atmosphere of fear in South Kashmir.

The killings came hours after the brutal murder of an Army soldier in Kulgam area of South Kashmir. The soldier had come home to participate in the last rites of his 18-year-old son who was killed in a road accident.

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The local chief of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terror outfit Reyaz Naikoo claimed responsibility for the killings.

The killings were condemned by all sections of society except the Separatists.

The recent spurt in violence against security force personnel comes just days before the state heads for civic polls.