LeT militant killed at Awantipora, pistol recovered: J-K Police

SRINAGAR — A 19-year-old Lashkar-e-Toiba militant was killed in an encounter with a joint team of Police and Army in Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday, officials said.

“Based on a specific input generated by Awantipora Police, a raid was conducted by a small team of police at Nambal area of Awantipora. During the raid, the hiding (militant) started firing indiscriminately upon the police party which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter,” a police spokesperson said in a statement to GNS. “In the meantime, reinforcement of 42RR immediately reached the encounter site.”

In the ensuing encounter, he said, one militant was killed. He has been identified as Irfan Ahmad Sheikh son of Abdul Rashid Sheikh of Karemabad Pulwama. “He is linked with LeT/TRF,” he said.

As per police records, he said, Irfan was a categorized militant. “He was involved in several cases including attacks on security forces.”

Besides, he was also providing logistic and other support to the active militants operating in the area before joining the militant ranks, he said.

“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one Pistol was recovered from the site of encounter,” police said, adding, “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.”

Meanwhile, sources said that the killed militant was 19-year-old and had gone missing on January 17.