Srinagar: Two policemen were killed in an ongoing encounter between the terrorists and security forces near Halmatpora village in Kupwara district on Wednesday. The security forces are involved in a search operation currently.

On Tuesday night, Four terrorists were killed in an encounter in a forest six kilometres away from Halmatpora village. The encounter lasted till late in the night and no bodies were discovered till searchlights were brought in. Later, three bodies were recovered. The operation was carried out jointly by Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir police and Indian Army’s 41 Rashtriya Rifles.

Following the encounter, a cordon and search operation was launched in the nearby forests.

“Attack on the joint party of SOG and Army triggered the encounter,” said Colonel Rajesh Kalia.

Halmatpora is the last village located before the Line of Control (LoC). According to the officials, the terrorists had entered the Indian side and were harboured in the village while waiting for a suitable opportunity to get in further.

Under ‘Operation All Out’ to eliminate militancy in the valley, 218 terrorists were killed by the forces in 2017 while 23 have been killed in 2018 so far. Official data reveals that 124 militants had managed to infiltrate into India last year.