Three Pakistani Among Four LeT Militants Killed In Kupwara Encounter
SRINAGAR — Three Pakistani among four militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant outfit were killed in an overnight encounter that broke out between government forces and militants at Lolab area of Kupwara district in North Kashmir on Sunday.
Reports said Kupwara Police launched a joint anti-militancy operation alongwith Army’s 28RR on the disclosure of an arrested militant Showket Ahmed Sheikh in Lolab area of Kupwara. During search of hideouts, hiding militants fired upon joint search parties which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.
In the encounter four militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant outfit were killed and they have been identified as Bambar Khan, Al Bakash and Aftab Bhai, all residents of Pakistan and a local militant Showket Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Sedow Shopian.
Incriminating materials, arms/ammunition including 02 AK series rifles, 06 AK Magazines, 01 M-4 rifle along with 01 Magazine and 03 live grenades were recovered from their possession.
According to police statement, “Showket was mastermind behind an IED blast in a private vehicle at Sedow Shopian in which one soldier was killed and other injured.”
The statement said that “During his interrogation it was revealed that he used to ferry militants and Arms/Ammunition from Lolab to Shopian. Kupwara Police got his custody changed by the order of Hon’ble Court and arrested in one terror related case.”
The statement further said that “During his interrogation in Kupwara he revealed several sensitive information related to militants operating in Lolab valley of Kupwara.”
“On his disclosure, an operation was launched and he also got trapped in initial ensuing encounter in which one foreign militant was neutralised. Several attempts were made to rescue him but he also got neutralised in firing of militants. Later on two more foreign militants got neutralised”, the statement said. — (KIMS)
