Srinagar July 2: Five LeT militants including the district commander of the outfit for Pulwama and a Pakistani militant besides a soldier were killed while a second soldier was injured in a gunfight between militants and security forces in Hanjin Rajpora area of south Kashmir district on Friday, police said.
The gunfight broke out late last night after a joint team of police, 44RR and 182/183 BN CRPF cordoned the area following a tip off about the presence of militants there, police said in a statement.
As per police, once the presence of militants was ascertained, the the civilians were evacuated to safer places and the hiding militants were “given an opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter”.
Due to darkness, the operation was suspended even as the cordon remained intact throughout the night to prevent the militants from escaping, police said.
As per police, the militants were again asked to surrender this morning, but they fired on the search party which was retaliated by the forces.
In the early exchange of fire, two army soldiers received gunshot injuries. They were removed to a hospital where one of them succumbed to the injuries, police said.
Five militants affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit were also killed in the ensuing gunfight as per police.
They have been identified by police as Nishaz Hussain Lone @ Khitab, district commander of the LeT, son of Manzoor Ahmed Lone, active since 2018, resident of Nageenpora Tral, Danish Manzoor Shiekh, son of Manzoor Ahmad of Sathergund Kakapora, Amir Wagay son of Abdul Gani Wagay, a resident of Hanjan Payeen, Mehran Manzoor of Jamalatoo Srinagar and a Pakistani militant identified as Abu Rehan @Tawheed.
Police said that Arms, ammunition “and other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter”.
As per police, one SLR rifle bearing number 16047232 which belonged to JKP (IRP 11 Bn) and was snatched by militants in 2016 from the guard of TV tower Lower Munda, regarding which a Case vide FIR No. 135/16 stands registered at Police Station Duroo in south Kashmir’s Anantnag was also recovered from today’s encounter site.
IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar in a statement congratulated Police and security forces for the “big success and conducting successful operation in professional manner”.