Two militants killed in Valley

Srinagar,

Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Sopore area of north Kashmir on Sunday, taking the toll to eight in the last four days of counter-insurgency operations.

“Based on specific input of Police about presence of two terrorists in Saidpura village near Sopore, joint operation was launched by Rashtriya Rifles unit of Army and the SOG, resulting into killing of two terrorists,” a defence spokesman said.

He said two AK-47 rifles, a Pistol, two UBGL, six UBGL rounds and other war like stores were recovered from the possession of the slain militants.

The security forces had laid cordon of the village last night following intelligence inputs which resulted in a gun battle in the wee hours today, the spokesman said.

The slain militants were identified as Kari Assadulah, Divisional Commander of LeT and Mohammad Ramzan of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

“Both the terrorists were from Pakistan and had infiltrated in 2013,” he added.

A police spokesman said Assadullah was instrumental in recruiting cadres of Jaish into his group.

“He was active in Kupwara district earlier and had moved to Sopore area last month and was planning to reactivate LeT base in Sopore,” the spokesman said.

Ramzan was earlier affiliated with Jaish and was a part of the 20-strong JeM group in north Kashmir which had infiltrated in 2013.

“A large part of that group migrated to South Kashmir and many were killed. He was one of the two remaining JeM militants of that group in North Kashmir who had now got inducted into LeT,” he added.

The operational successes come in the wake of killing of six militants in two separate operations and the arrest of another LeT militant over the past four days.

One LeT militant was killed on Wednesday in Sopore area while five ultras were shot dead during a gun battle in Shopian area of south Kashmir the next day.