Security forces killed two suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militants in an exchange of fire in Jammu and Kashmir’s Tahab area in Pulwama district on Sunday, ANI reported. Troops from the 55 Rashtriya Rifles, the 182 Battalion, the 183 Battalion, the Central Reserve Police Force and the Special Operations Group Latipura were part of the encounter.

The encounter started after the suspected militants had fired at the armed personnel during a cordon and search operation in the region, officials told the news agency. “We had inputs that these terrorists were threatening government officials and politicians,” Commander 12 Rashtriya Rifles Harbir Singh told ANI. “Based on this input, a search operation was carried out in the morning. The search party reached a house and they were fired upon.”

On July 27, armed forces had killed three suspected militants during an infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gurez sector.