One militant killed in ongoing encounter in Awantipora area of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama

A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Awantipora area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. [caption id=“attachment_5623351” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. ANI[/caption] Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Banderpora area of Awantipora in the south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday morning following specific information about the presence of militants there, a police official told PTI. He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon the search party, who retaliated. The gunfight is still underway, the official said, adding further details were awaited. The encounter comes almost a week after six terrorists, including a close aide of Zakir Musa, were gunned down during an encounter in Awantipora. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area following specific intelligence input about the presence of terrorists in the area. As the forces conducted searches, terrorists fired upon them, which triggered the encounter. On 15 December,   seven civilians were killed in Pulwama , following protests and clashes during an encounter. The forces managed to kill three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including one Zahoor Thokar,  an ex-Indian Army personnel who joined militancy last year, but inflicted heavy civilian casualty in the process. One army jawan also lost his life in the encounter. The civilians’ deaths had cause statewide outrage, with separatist conglomerate Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) calling for protests towards the Srinagar headquarters of the army. It also asked people to observe shutdown for three days. With inputs from agencies