SRINAGAR: The killer of a Kashmiri Pandit guy was among two terrorists shot dead around 1am Tuesday in an operation enduring numerous hours at a village mosque in Awantipora of south Kashmirs Pulwama district that also left a soldier of 55 Rashtriya Rifles eliminated and among his associates wounded, J&K authorities said.According to a military statement, Sepoy Pawan Kumar passed away of numerous bullet injuries following a hand-to-hand battle with one of the terrorists whom he subdued and killed.He is survived by his mom Bhajun Dassi.

His last rites will be done at his native Pithyt village in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh with full military honours.Additional DGP Vijay Kumar stated the killed terrorists were Aqib Mushtaq of Pulwama, who was responsible for bank guard Sharmas murder this Sunday, and his associate Ajaz Ahmad Bhat of Tral in south Kashmir.

Killer of late Sanjay Sharma neutralised, J&K police claimed in a tweet.Naik Hemraj was wounded in the gunfight at Padgampora village of Awantipora, 20km north of Achan in the very same district where Sharma was killed when he was out purchasing groceries.

He was quickly shifted to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, for treatment.The gunfight broke out after a combined group of Army, CRPF and J&K police surrounded the mosque late Monday following information that terrorists were holed up there.

Security forces exercised severe care and restricted firepower was used to ensure there was no damage to the mosque.

Civilians were left ahead of time to prevent collateral damage, Kumar said.

Photos from the site later revealed no significant damage caused to the shrine, aside from bullet-riddled window panes.The officer stated the other terrorist had actually left to an adjacent building and concealed in a bathroom.

Fourteen civilians were securely gotten rid of from the location before he was shot dead, he said.Two AK-series rifles, a pistol, two grenades, 7 magazines, and 2 Aadhaar cards were discovered on the two terrorists.Aqib was believed to be with Hizbul Mujahideen since 2021 before he moved to The Resistance Force, an offshoot of the Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Ajaz became an active member of Jaish-e-Mohammed in 2015 and was working for Hizbul and LeT also, cops claimed.