Three unidentified militants were killed in an operation by security forces in remote lolab area of north Kashmir while an equal number of suspected over-ground workers of banned lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) outfit were apprehended in Srinagar, official sources said.
The security forces cordoned off Patushay forests of lolab area in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Thursday morning following information that a group of militants was spotted in the area, around 115 kilometres from here.
A Defence spokesman in Srinagar said that three unidentified militants were killed in the operation and their bodies were retrieved from the jungle area. The militants were donning Army fatigues. Sources said that at least one militant has escaped the cordon. The search operation continued in the region when last reports came in from the area. Three AK-47 rifles with ammunition have been recovered from the encounter site.
Reports said that thousands of people gathered to attend the last rites of slain militants chanting pro-independence slogans.
In another incident, militants opened fire on a police party at Hakripora Village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. A senior police officer said that a police party had been sent into the area where some gunshots were heard. Sources said that some locals hit the streets soon after gunshots were heard apparently to help militants to escape from the area.
The security forces are regularly encountering such incidents in the south Kashmir region. The locals come out in large numbers to throw stones on security forces when militants get trapped in the area, a police officer said. The police have issued warnings to people and asked them to refrain from going closer to encounter sites.
Meanwhile, police claimed to have arrested three local leT militants in lal Mandi area of capital Srinagar. The militants were crossing a foot bridge over Jhelum River when they were trapped. Police described the arrests as a major success.
The three lashkar militants are Ubaid Untoo of north Kashmir’s Sopore town, Yawar Muzaffar Bhat of Batpura Sopore, and Altaf Hussain lone of Kalaroos village in Kupwara. Four Chinese grenades, one Chinese Pistol, 08 rounds, two magazines and one GPS were recovered from their possession.