Srinagar, May 19: At least five militants including two top Pakistani militants and a policeman were killed in two separate gunfights in Indian Kashmir during past 24 hours.
Indian soldiers patrolling in Srinagar after unrest in the area. - photo by : AP/Mukhtar Khan
A senior police officer said that acting on a specific input, police, paramilitary and army men laid siege around Lashdaban village, Rajpora, some 55 kms south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir on Wednesday morning.
“After plugging off all the possible escape routes, the soldiers zeroed-in on a residential house and asked the militants to surrender. They, however, turned down the offer and fired from automatic weapons towards the soldiers. The fire was returned and in the ensuing gunfight, which continued for more than five hours, three militants owing allegiance to pro-Pakistan militant group Hizbul Mujahideen were killed,” he said.
The house, where from militants were firing on the soldiers, was completely damaged after it was blasted by the soldiers.
Two of the slain militants were identified as Latif Tedwa and Rafiq Bhat alias Saifullah, both Kashmiris.
Indian army spokesman, Lt Col Biplab Nath said army and police men launched a joint combing operation in the mountainous area of Jaura Khurd, Gundoh, Doda in winter capital of Kashmir.
He said during the operation, an encounter took place between the militants hiding in the forest area and the search party. “Two Pakistani militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba and a policeman were killed in the gunfight,” he said.
He identified the slain militant as Abdullah Anas and Abu Maaz. “Both were top commanders of the militant group. Abdullah was active since 2004 while Maaz since 2003. Two AK 47 rifles were recovered from the encounter site,” added the army spokesman.
On Tuesday, two army men were killed and four others critically injured in a militant attack.
