Two days after Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma was shot dead, the terrorist involved in the crime was eliminated in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Tuesday

ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said the ultra killed in an overnight gunfight with security forces has been identified as the killer of Sharma.

?"Killed #terrorist identified as Aqib Mustaq Bhat of #Pulwama (A category). He initially worked for HM #terror outfit, nowadays he had been working with TRF. #Killer of late Sanjay Sharma #neutralised," Kumar tweeted.

Sanjay Sharma (40), who worked as an ATM guard, was shot in the chest at point-blank range in the Achan area of the south Kashmir district around 11 am on Sunday.

"Terrorists fired upon one civilian from minority namely Sanjay Sharma S/O Kashinath Sharma R/O Achan Pulwama while on way to local market," the Kashmir Zone police wrote on Twitter.

They said Sharma was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to the injuries. ?? ?

He was cremated in his native village in Pulwama on Monday.

Encounter started this morning

"Encounter has started at Padgampora Awantipora in Pulwama district. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow.", Kashmir Zone Police tweeted before the deceased was identified.?

While updating about the encounter, Jammu and Kashmir Police said, "one terrorist was killed in the encounter. However, his body is yet to be retrieved."

"The encounter is underway. Further details shall follow," police said.

Last year, terrorists carried out nearly 30 attacks on civilians, killing 18 people including three Kashmiri Pandits, a bank manager from Rajasthan, a woman teacher from Jammu and eight non-local workers, according to agencies.

(With PTI Inputs)