Srinagar, Dec 22 (GNS): Six militants were killed in a brief encounter at Tral area of Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday morning.

A senior police officer told GNS that a joint team of army’s 42 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation following “credible inputs” about the presence of militants at Arampora hamlet of Dadsara today early in the morning.

In the meantime, the forces fired some warning shots towards a “militant hideout” situated in an orchard along the Tral-Awantipora road. The militant group hiding inside the hideout opened fire triggering off a gunfight which lasted for a brief time, he said.

During the course of the gunfight, six militants of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind militant outfit including its Deputy Chief Soliha have been killed, he said.

The bodies of all the slain militants along with as many weapons and other arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession, he said, adding: “The identities of the other five militants is being ascertained”. (GNS)