New Delhi: Suspected militants have fled with two service rifles from Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. Police said that militants over-powered the security guards of a former police officer in Chadoora area late on Sunday and fled with two carbine rifles of the guards posted there.

Recently, two militants, including a PhD scholar and Hizbul commander, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Kupwara district. Hizbul commander was identified as Manan Bashir Wani. Wani belongs to Lolab area of Kupwara.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had described the killing of the top Hizbul commander as a ‘loss’. Taking to Twitter, she had written that security forces gunned down two top HM militants including a former PhD scholar-turned-militant Manan Bashir Wani, Handwara district of north Kashmir.

Mehbooba tweeted, “Today a PhD scholar chose death over life and was killed in an encounter. His death is entirely our loss as we are losing young educated boys every day. It is high time that all the political parties in the country realise the gravity of this situation and try to facilitate a solution through dialogue with all the stakeholders including Pakistan to end this bloodshed.”

An encounter broke out in the morning between security forces and militants in Shartgund Bala area of Qalamabad. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.