LeT Commander, Pak Militant Among Four Killed In Two South Kashmir Encounters
SRINAGAR — Four militants, including a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Commander and a Pakistani militant were killed in two different encounters in South Kashmir on Tuesday.
Reports said, on Tuesday afternoon, an encounter broke out between government forces and militants at Semthan village in Bijbehara town of Anantnag district in which a local militant was killed. Later in the evening another encounter broke out between government forces and militants at Khandipora village in Awantipora town of Pulwama district in which three militants including a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Commander and a Pakistani militant were killed.
They said that a joint team of government forces including Indian Army, J&K Police and CRPF had launched Cordon-and-Search-Operation (CASO) at Semthan village in Anantnag district and Khandipora village Pulwama district following the inputs about presence of militants in the area.
As the joint team of forces approached the suspected spots, militants fired upon them which was retaliated, triggering an encounter, they added.
In the encounter at Khandipora Awantipora, a local militant, affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit identified as Shakir Ahmad, son of Habibullah, a resident of Ladermud was killed while as three militants including a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Commander Mukhtar Bhat and a Pakistani militant were killed in Semthan Bijbehara encounter. The identification of third militant is yet to be ascertained.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK-47 rifle, 01 AK-56 rifle and 01 pistol was recovered from encounter sites.
Police in a statement said that Shakir Ahmad was involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities.
The statement said that militants killed in Khandipora Awantipora were involved in several terror crimes including killing of 01 ASI of CRPF & 2 RPF personnel.
As per source, Mukhtar Bhat along with FT was going for fidayeen attack on security force camp, the statement said. — (KIMS)
