In a first, a terrorist surrendered on Sunday during an encounter with security forces that broke out in Shopian district of south Kashmir last evening, the police said in Srinagar.
They said Adil, who had joined the terrorists in May this year, surrendered after he was trapped from all sides.
Jammu and Kashmir police officials assured him that he would not be killed after which he emerged from the debris of the house and laid down his AK-47 in front of police officials.
This is for the first time in recent months that a terrorist has laid down his arms during an encounter.
Adil, a resident of Chitipora in Shopian, was immediately whisked away for questioning, they said, adding that the body of another terrorist, identified as Tariq Ahmed Dar, was recovered from the encounter site.
Dar was involved in many terror-related incidents, they said.
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police S P Vaid had earlier said that boys who had taken to arms can surrender and the government would consider their case.
Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation at Barbugh in Imam Sahib area of Shopian last evening after getting information about presence of terroristst there. The ultras opened fire on the search party, triggering a gun battle.
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