Srinagar, June 3: One of the longest surviving militants is suspected to be among the two militants trapped in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district where a gun battle has been underway since early Monday, official sources said.

They said top Lashkar-e-Taiba Commander Riyaz Ahmad Dar alias Khalid alias Sheeraz, a resident of Sethar gund Kakapora Pulwama was trapped in the village Nihama, where a joint anti-militancy operation has been going on for the last several hours.

Dar, joined militancy in 2015 and has been active in the district, officials said.

Police said the encounter erupted in Nihama area early this morning during a cordon and a search operation by joint forces following an input about militant presence.

“As the joint team of security forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon them, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” a police official said, adding there is so far no confirmation about any casualties.

He said the two trapped militants were allowed to surrender.

” However, they did not heed the calls and opened fire on the joint forces,” the official said.

A house where the militants are believed to be trapped caught fire during the exchange of fire.

UNI