Srinagar, Aug 2: An encounter erupted between militants and security forces in Jammu & Kashmir's northern district of Kupwara on Thursday. At least two insurgents were eliminated in the ensuing gunfight, confirmed J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Shesh Paul Vaid. The deceased's identity was yet to be confirmed.

The gunfight reportedly broke out in Khumriyal area of Lolab in Kupwara district, where a team of J&K's Special Operation Group (SOG) and the Indian Army launched a search operation to nab the suspected militants.

An official involved in the counter-militancy operation said the bodies of the deceased terrorists has been recovered from the site of the encounter. The security personnel have also seized arms and ammunition found close to the slain militants.

The fresh encounter in the Valley comes in the backdrop of the ruling BJP at the Center indicating a hardline approach to deal with insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir.

After pulling out of the state government led by Mehbooba Mufti, senior BJP leader Ram Madhav had said that the decision was taken in the national interest. "PDP wanted us to be soft on terror. They wanted us to extend an indefinite ceasefire despite the terrorists continuing their assault on our forces," said Madhav, who was the architect of the PDP-BJP coalition formed in 2015.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 02, 2018 03:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).