Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, who were encircled on Wednesday evening, were killed in a fierce gunfight in north Kashmir’s Baramulla on Thursday.
“The bodies of the two militants were retrieved from the site on Thursday at Sopore’s Brath Kalan area. Both were wanted by the law for their complicity in terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities,” said a senior police official.
The slain militants were identified as Owais Ahmad Bhat alias Abu Bakar, a resident of Gund Brathand Tahir Ahmad Dar alias Abu Abdullah, a resident of Sopore’s Saidpora. “Both were affiliated with the LeT outfit,” said the police.
The police said a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including rifles, were recovered from the site of encounter.
The militants were encircled on Wednesday evening by the security forces during a cordon operation. “The hiding militants fired upon the security forces to break the cordon,” said the police.
The killing sparked protests in Sopore and a spontaneous shutdown was observed. Dozens of youth, throwing stones, clashed with the security forces. The clashes impacted movement of traffic too.
Later, the bodies were buried in Sopore. Locals in huge numbers participated in the funerals. Extra deployment was made in the area to contain protests.