Security forces on Friday said five militants from the Lashkar-e-Toiba, some of whom were involved in the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit and several other attacks, were killed in an overnight operation in Samno village of Kulgam in south Kashmir.

Another militant was also killed in an ongoing military operation at Behrot in Budhal area of Rajouri district on Friday.

Deputy inspector-general, south Kashmir, Rayees Mohammad Bhat, said a joint operation by the police, 34 Rashtriya Rifles and the army was launched in Samno village on Thursday evening following inputs about the presence of militants in some houses.

Footage from the encounter site showed heavy plumes of smoke and fire rising from some homes as security forces encircled the area. At least two houses, where militants were allegedly hiding, were razed to the ground in the fire.

A police spokesman said the joint party faced indiscriminate firing from militants when they approached a particular spot on Thursday evening. The forces retaliated but the operation was kept on hold for the night as darkness descended.

“The cordon remained intact throughout the night and with the help of reinforcements, the cordoned area was further strengthened. With the first light today, the operation was resumed, which resulted in the elimination of five terrorists,” the spokesman said.

The five slain militants were identified as Yasir Bilal Bhat, Danish Hameed Thoker, Ubaid Ahmad Padder, Sameer Farooq Sheikha and Hanzal Yaqoob Shah — residents of Shopian and Kulgam districts.

“As per police records, the killed terrorists were categorised terrorists and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police/ SFs (security forces) and civilian atrocities,” the police said.

The police said Sameer and Danish were involved in the killing of Sonu Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit chemist, in Chotigam village of Shopian in August last year.

The spokesman also said Danish and Hanzal were involved in the attack on non-local labourers in Gagren village of Shopian on July 13, injuring them.