J&K: End To 3 Day Long Handwara Encounter, Two Terrorists Killed, Five Security Personnel Martyred 

Two terrorists were killed on Sunday (3 March) in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) Handwara that lasted for nearly 72 hours, reports Indian Express.

A CRPF jawan was reportedly martyred after being shot in the hip. He was identified as Shyam Narayan Singh Yadav, a resident of Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh.

Bodies of the two terrorists have also been recovered from the site of the encounter, the J&K Police said. Their identities and affiliations are being ascertained, the report added. According to the report, the police has also recovered arms and ammunition from the spot.

The encounter entered day three after a cordon and search operation in Babagund area of Kralgund at Handwara that led to exchange of gunfire.

However, the Kashmir IGP SP Pani cited operational difficulties over the long-drawn-out encounter.

Pani said, “During the operation, bullets are fired from both sides. The place where the operation is going on has the civilian population as well, so we have to evacuate them. We have done the evacuation. The area is congested. Keeping in view the operational difficulties, the right action is being taken.”