Two foreign guerrillas of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit were killed and one Indian army officer was injured Monday in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, a defence spokesman said.
"Based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists in Malikpora village of Handwara, a joint operation by the army and police was launched," he said.
The operation was carried out by a Rashtriya Rifles unit and police.
When the security forces closed in, the guerrillas hiding inside a house fired at them. The troops retaliated, which resulted in the death of two guerrillas.
"Both of them were foreign terrorists and belonged to the LeT," the spokesman said.
They were identified as Abu Hurrera and Abu Talah. Hurrera was the divisional commander and was earlier involved in several terrorism-related activities.
Two AK-47 rifles, magazines and ammunition were found at the site.
During the operation, one army officer sustained minor injuries and was administered first aid at the military hospital.
Srinagar-based Chinar Corps commander Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh praised the security forces who braved inclement weather and conducted the operation in the most professional manner.