Baramulla, February 22: In a major breakthrough for security forces, two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were killed in an encounter in Warpora area of Sopore in north Kashmir on Friday. The security forces on Thursday evening launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Warpora area in Sopore of Baramulla district after getting a tip-off about the presence of terrorists in the area. The encounter broke out after the terrorists opened fire at the search party.

The identity of the terrorists is yet to be ascertained. Incriminating material including arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. While interacting with media DIG South Kashmir Atul Kumar Goel confirmed that no security personnel were injured in the encounter. Goel also requested people not to venture into the operational area until it is sanitised. Pulwama Attack Aftermath: Kerala Police Arrests Two Students For Demanding 'Freedom For Kashmir'; Sedition Case Registered.

Statement of DIG South Kashmir Atul Goel:

On Thursday night the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Sopore had imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Penal Code. Sopore police gave this information through a tweet, “In view of the apprehension of L & O problem, restrictions under sec 144 CRPC are hereby imposed on the gathering of more than 4 persons in entire Sub-division Sopore with effect from evening 21-02-2019 till further orders. ADC Sopore.”

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, at least two suspected members of Jaish-e-Mohammed were nabbed in Deoband town of Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district. The accused have been identified as Shahnawaz and Aqib, natives of J&K's Kulgam and Pulwama, respectively. The ATS crackdown comes a day after reports, citing top intelligence sources, claimed that the JeM is now considering to launch terror attacks in Jammu or outside J&K.

The alert was sounded based on the inputs received from several agencies. Intercepts of phone conversations between the Pakistan-based terror handlers and their operatives in Kashmir revealed that the group is emboldened with the "success" of Pulwama attack, and is planning to execute more such attacks in the near future.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 22, 2019 07:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).