Two Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) terrorists, on the run since last one week, were gunned down by the joint team of security forces near the court complex in the Central Kashmir district of Budgam on Tuesday.
As per police records, both the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists and part of groups involved in several terror crime cases. According to police these terrorists were tasked to carry out some sensational terror incident in Budgam district ahead of forthcoming Republic Day.
The movement of these terrorists was tracked down by the intelligence agencies after they had managed to give a slip to the security forces during a brief exchange of fire in the Magam area on January 15.
According to a Srinagar based Defence Spokesman, based on specific information about the movement of these terrorists in the area of Budgam a joint mobile vehicle check post was launched by the Indian Army and J&K police on Tuesday.
The Defence Spokesman said, “around 9.40 a.m, a suspected Tata Sumo was intercepted by the security forces. On being challenged, the terrorists in the vehicle in an attempt to flee, opened indiscriminate fire on the security forces”. “They did so to create chaos by inflicting casualties to security forces & civilians in the crowded area”. However, the security forces exercised complete restraint and cordoned off the terrorists in the nearby shops, where they had sought shelter, added the defence spokesman.
To avoid any collateral damage in the crowded market area the security forces evacuated the locals to safety before tightening the cordon.
According to a Defence Spokesman, “the terrorist however continued with indiscriminate fire on the security forces who were evacuating the locals. In the ensuing firefight, both the terrorists were eliminated by the security forces”.
The neutralised terrorists have been identified by the Jammu and Kashmir police as Sahid Rashid Sheikh, r/o Kisrigom, Kakapora and Arbaz Ah Mir, r/o Putrigam, Pulwama, both belonging to LeT.
The search of the area resulted in recovery of one AK series rifle, one pistol and other undiscriminating material.