Three LeT militants killed in Sopore gunfight

BARAMULLA — Three Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed in an encounter at Pethseer village of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said on Tuesday.

An official told news agency Kashmir News Observer that a joint team of Police, Army’s 52 RR and CRPF’s 177, 179 and 92 battalion cordoned off the village following inputs about the presence of militants in the area late night on Monday. “As the forces zeroed in on the suspected spot, the militants fired at the security forces that was retaliated, triggering an encounter,” the official said.

He said that in the ensuing gunfight initially, one militant was killed and then one more militant was killed. “Early morning, today, one more militant was killed, taking the toll to three,” the official said.

A police spokesman in a statement said that during the intervening night of August 23/24, based on specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in Pethseer area of Sopore, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Sopore Police, Army (52RR) and CRPF in the said area.

“During the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained, they were given opportunity to surrender, however, instead they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” the police spokesman said, adding, “However, due to darkness, the operation was suspended, while the cordon was kept intact. In the wee hours, repeated announcements were again made to the hiding militants to surrender, but the militants again fired on joint search party and the fire was retaliated.”

The spokesman said that in the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.

“They have been identified as Faisal Fayaz son of Fayaz Ah Thokar, resident of Kapren Shopian; Gh Mustafa Sheikh son of Abdul Ahad Sheikh, resident of Tekipura, Kupwara and Rameez Ah Ganie son of Ab Majeed Ganie, resident of Zipor Dharamati, Shopian, affiliated with LeT (TRF),” the spokesman said.

The police spokesman said that incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK-47 rifle and two Pistols were recovered from the site of encounter.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said that due to the collective efforts of J&K Police, Army, CRPF & people of Kashmir have led to neutralisation of more than 100 militants in the current year so far in Kashmir division. The IGP termed it as a big success and congratulated security forces including Army and the CRPF.