Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 19: A Pakistani militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed in a fierce gun battle in South Kashmir district of Pulwama today while his two associates slipped out of cordon.
A joint operation was launched this afternoon by Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Awantipora, 55-Rashtriya Rifles of Army and 110 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at Ladhoo, Pampore, in Pulwama district.
The operation was launched after the security forces received tip off about presence of three foreign militants of LeT hiding near the Khyber Milk plant in the area.
As the security forces cordoned off the area, the militants opened fire on them leading to a gunbattle in which one militant was killed. He has been identified as Khubaib alias Abu Qasim, a Pakistani national. One AK 47 rifle and two magazines were recovered from him.
His two associates managed to slip out of cordon under the cover of fire and dense vegetation. Security forces have launched massive man hunt against these two militants but could not trace out the two militants and later found the dead body of one of the militants.
Security forces have been after this group of militants for last several weeks and were tracking their movements. They are said to be recently infiltrated and were planning Fidayeen attacks in South Kashmir.
Security in South Kashmir is already on high alert after recent strikes by militants in Bijbehara and Anantnag in which 5 security men including three BSF men and two cops were killed.
Police, Army and CRPF have launched massive searches against the LeT in South Kashmir to track down the two militants who carried out attack in Anantnag on police and were caught in a camera while carrying out the attack.
Police have rounded up over two dozen persons including Over Ground Workers of the LeT to trace out the militant duo. Police have already circulated posters of the two LeT militants in Anantnag district. These militants have been identified as Junaid Ahmad Mattoo son of Manzoor Ahmad Mattoo resident of Khudwani in Kulgam district and another militant as Ali, a foreigner.
This year security forces had major success against the militants and over 60 militants were killed so far.
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