SRINAGAR : One more militant was killed today, taking the death toll to two in the Pulwama encounter which started yesterday afternoon.
After around 20-hour-long gunbattle, the security forces left the area this afternoon, official sources said.
A Divisional Commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was also killed in the encounter with security forces yesterday.
The cordon around Mir Mohalla and adjoining areas in village Ichgosa in Pulwama was further tightened to foil any attempt by militants, holed up there, to escape under the cover of darkness last night, when the operation was suspended.
However, with the first light today, the search operation was again launched, official sources said, adding that firing shots and loud explosion could be heard at a distance from the area.
When the security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants again opened fire with automatic weapons. When security forces retaliated, one more militant was killed.
The identity of the slain militant was being ascertained, they said.
The cordon of the village has been lifted after conducting proper searches, they said.
On a specific information yesterday afternoon, regarding the presence of armed militants there, state Police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and CRPF launched a joint cordon and search operation at Mir Mohalla, in Pulwama district, a police spokesman said.
The militants hiding in the area fired upon the search party, ensuing a fierce gunbattle.
JeM commander Altaf Baba alias Gazi Baba was killed in the encounter last evening.
Baba was involved in the civilian killings of Nazir Ahmad Chopan resident of Kandipora and Mohammad Ahsan Wani resident of Kanigam.
The spokesman said Baba was also involved in abduction of Shameem Ahmad Dar resident of Aglar, Kandi. He was also involved in number of firing incident in the jurisdiction of police station, Rajpora.
Baba had joined the JeM militant outfit in 2008 after he was motivated by Sajad Afghani alias Ahsan Bhai of Pakistan.
He replaced Afghani after his death in an encounter. (agencies)
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