Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 24: In a major success for the security forces in Kashmir, seven Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed in North Kashmir’s Lolab forests after they fired at an Army patrol this afternoon.
A Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Lt Col N N Joshi, said here that an Army patrol party that was dominating the general area Dardpura, Lolab in North Kashmir forests was fired upon by militants this afternoon.
“The patrol party retaliated by firing at them resulting in the killing of seven militants”, he added.
The spokesman while sharing the details of the operation said that at about 02.40 p.m. an Army patrol was fired upon while patrolling the thickly forest area of Dardpura, Lolab in North Kashmir. “The patrol party retaliated by firing immediately. There was a heavy exchange of fire in the forest area.
The troops were beefed up. Seven militants have been killed in the heavy firing fight, cache of arms and ammunition have been recovered. The identity of the slain militants is being ascertained. The operation is still on till reports last came in”, the spokesman added.
A police spokesman said that in a joint operation by 18 RR and Police, seven militants were killed in an encounter in the forest area of Dardpora, Lalpora, Lolab.
Sources said that a patrol party of 18 RR was fired at in Dardpora village forest area. “Army returned the fire leading to a fierce encounter. Additional reinforcements of 31 RR, 28 RR and SOG Takipora were sent to the forests to assist the 18 RR. Seven LeT militants were killed and huge cache of arms and ammunition including 7 AK rifles, 28 magazines, one UBGL, 7 rucksacks and documents and war like stores were recovered”, sources added.
This is the major success for the security forces in North Kashmir in which such a large group of militants was killed. Sources said that such a large group of militants was killed in a single operation in the hinterland after several years.
Sources said that these militants were hiding in their forest hideouts during the winter and opened fire on a search party.
The Army porters have brought the bodies from the forest and they have now been brought to Lalpora Police Station. Sources said that identity of the militants has not been ascertained yet.
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