Srinagar, Apr 25 (UNI) A militant associate was killed and two

policemen were injured in a gunbattle in Bandipora district of Jammu

and Kashmir, officials said on Friday.

They said the gunbattle broke out in the wee hours in the Ajas forest

of the district.

Officials said a search operation was launched in the forest area

following an input by a militant associate who was arrested two days

ago.

They said as the security forces headed to a hideout , militants

opened fire on the troops , triggering a gunbattle.

" In the initial firing two policemen and a terror associate were

injured ," they said.

The said militant associate identified as Altaf Lalli succumbed to

his injuries later.

Earlier the day, Army said a joint search operation was launched with

the Police Kolnar Ajas, Bandipora following a specific intelligence

input regarding the presence of terrorists.

“Contact was established and firefight ensued. Operation is in

progress,” Army Srinagar based Chinar Corps said.

A day earlier, security forces had arrested four suspected Over Ground

Workers (OGWs) of Lashkar in the district in two separate operations.

In the past three days, Kashmir has witnessed a major carnage as

terrorists targeted tourists near the famous resort town of Pahalgam,

leaving 25 tourists and one local dead. A day later, two infiltrators

were shot dead in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. That same

evening, a gunbattle broke out in Kulgam district, though no

casualties were reported.

UNI MJR GNK