Jammu, April 1: A gunbattle broke out between militants and security forces on Sunday in Shopian and Anantnag district of south Kashmir. Two Army jawans lost their lives in the ongoing operation while eight terrorists have been gunned down by security forces, in two separate encounters in the Valley.

Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid while addressing a press conference on Sunday said that out of the 7 terrorists killed, 2 terrorists were involved in the killing of Indian Army Lt Ummer Fayaz. 22-year-old Fayaz was abducted by terrorists while attending a cousin's wedding in Shopian in May last year and his bullet-riddled body was found the next day.

AK Bhatt, GOC Army's 15 Corps was quoted by ANI saying that excellent synergy has developed between the police, army, CRFP and the troops on ground. "We had been looking for the terrorists who killed Lt Ummer Fayaz, today we neutralised them. All terrorists killed today were locals", he added.

SP Vaid informed that one civilian was killed in Shopian's Dragad and one in Kachdoora while 25 civilians received pellet injuries and 6 received bullet injuries. Vaid informed that members from J&K police, CRPF personnel, and Army jawans have suffered injuries.

As per reports, security forces carried out anti-terror operations at two locations in Shopian - the first in Dragad village, and the other in Kachdoora village. Vaid confirmed in a tweet that the bodies of seven terrorists, including top commanders, have been recovered from Dragad village.  He informed that 7 terrorists killed in Shopian's Dragad have been identified as locals and their bodies have been reportedly been claimed by their kin.

As per reports by ANI, another gunfight broke out in Kachdoora area of Shopian. At least 5 terrorists are believed to be trapped but some civilians are also trapped in the houses in Kachdoora.

Vaid said that the encounter in Kachdoora is still underway as four to five terrorists are believed to be holed up in houses. Several civilians are also trapped with them and efforts are on to rescue the civilians, added DGP Vaid.

Earlier in the day, one terrorist was gunned down and another was arrested alive in an encounter which took place in Dialgam area of Anantnag. "We caught one terrorist alive and one was killed, in Anantnag. Two army jawans lost their lives in the ongoing operation”, Vaid said.  Acting on intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in Dialgam, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area, a police official said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 01, 2018 03:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).