Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in a brief shootout with government forces in Kulgam district late Wednesday night, police said.

A police official said a party of army’s 9 Rashtriya Rifles, special operations group of J&K police and 18 battalion CRPF jointly laid ambush in Gopalpora village near Damhal Hanjipora after inputs about movement of militants in the area last night.

As soon the militants were spotted, the forces challenged them, he said.

“Militants opened fire and tried to break the cordon. The fire was retaliated to, triggering a brief gunfight in which two militants were killed,” he said.

The slain militants were identified as Aaqib Hamid Itoo, 16, of Gopalpora village, and Suhail Arif, also 16, of Tantraypora–Yaripora. Both were affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.