March 03: Refer to our earlier press note on Handwara; in this regard it is further informed that two terrorists were killed in the encounter with security forces. Moreover one Jawan of CRPF identified as Sham Narayan Singh Yadav who was injured earlier has attained martyrdom.

Bodies of both the terrorists were recovered from the site of encounter. Their identities and affiliations are being ascertained.

This operation posed considerable difficulties to the security forces due to the topography of the area. Area where the terrorists were hiding was very congested and civilians in the adjoining houses had to be evacuated to the safer places away from the site of encounter.

Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case in this matter and the incriminating materials retrieved from the site of encounter have been taken in the case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror cases.

Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any.