Three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces near the route of the annual Amarnath Yatra in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.
Ashraf Molvi, one of the oldest surviving terrorists of the outfit, was among those who were killed.
"Ashraf Molvi (one of oldest surviving #terrorist of HM #terror outfit) along with two other terrorists killed. #Successful #operation on yatra route is a major #success for us," Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said in a tweet.
The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Srichand Top forest area in Pahalgam, Anantnag based on specific inputs about the presence of terrorists. The search operation turned into an encounter when the hiding terrorists fired at the security forces, a police officer said.
Pahalgam, the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir, also serves as one of the base camps for the yatra, which is scheduled to start from June 30 after a gap of two years.
—With PTI inputs
