Defence officials said the spurt in their elimination has alarmed various militant groups, and the recent attacks by them is a "result" of that.
"At least 72 militants have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir this year compared to 38 during the corresponding period last year," a top Army official said here.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had recently said that "encounters have increased" when asked to comment on the spurt in violence by the militants in the state.