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Srinagar: District commander of Lashker-e-Toiba was among two militants killed in an encounter with joint team of police and army in Shopian district of South Kashmir, official sources said Tuesday.
Superintendent of Police, Shopian, Shahid Mehraj told KMW that police and 44 Rashtriya Rifles launched the searches-and-cordon operation at Trenz Kral Mohalla in the district last evening.
He said that as the joint team was approaching towards a particular house, the militants holed up inside, opened fire. “The militants later abandoned the house in a bid to escape but were cordoned in the open field,†he said, adding, “After a fierce gun battle, both of them were killed.â€
The Shopian police chief identified the slain duo as LeT’s Gowhar Ganie of Heff Shermal and Mudasir Bhat of Yamrach Kulgam. “Ganie was the district commander of the outfit,†he said.
He also claimed recovery of an AK-47, AK-74 and ammunition from the possession of the slain militants.
With the killings, seven militants have died in gunfights in last two days. While two militants each were killed in Kulgam and Kupwara district yesterday, another was killed in Sopore on Sunday.
Meanwhile, an unclaimed article—briefcase—created panic in Karanagar area, little over a kilometre from this commercial hub of Lal Chowk, around 1430 hours.
Eyewitness said that that a police team reached the spot and later called in Bomb Disposal Squad. However, in the meantime, a man approached the police and claimed the suitcase. The identity of the man could not be ascertained.
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