Srinagar, Sep 24 (UNI) A militant was killed by security forces in an encounter which ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir district of Pulwama on Thursday, police and defence ministry spokespersons said.
Police spokesperson said the operation concluded without any collateral damage.
He said Thursday noon on a tip-off about the presence of militants, Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police, CRPF and Rashtriya Rifles (RR) launched a CASO at village Machhama , Tral, in Pulwama district this morning.
However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village, militants hiding there opened fire, he said , adding the firing was retaliated ensuing in an encounter in which an unidentified militant was killed.
Police said slain militant was identified as Irfan Ahmad Dar belonging to Al-Badr.
Defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said a joint operation was launched Thursday morning based on the inputs by police at Machhama Awantipora in Pulwama.
Area was cordoned off and many announcements were made through public address system to militants to surrender.
But, he said, militants lobbed grenades on Security forces and in return firing was retaliated. A militant was killed, he said.

Col Kalia said one pistol , one magazine and five rounds of ammunition were recovered from the slain militant who was earlier apprehended on August 4 by police for lobbing grenade at naka party at national highway near Charsoo in April 2019. However , he was later released on April 20, 2020 and had gone missing on August 29 and later joined militancy.
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