Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, including a Pakistani national, were killed in an overnight gunfight in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

The gunfight erupted in the Sirhama area of Bijbehara on Thursday evening when the police, Army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation following a tip-off.

“As security forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants opened fire, which was retaliated. The exchange of gunfire continued during the night. In the operation, two militants were killed,” a police officer said.

Vijay Kumar, IGP (Kashmir), identified the two as top Lashkar commanders, who made several attempts to escape the cordon.

“One of the slain militants is Abu Rehan from Pakistan, who was active since March 2019. The second one has been identified as Adil Bhat, who was involved in the attack on two policemen at Nowgam (on August 14) where an INSAS rifle was snatched. The rifle was recovered from the gunfight site today,” Kumar said at a press conference.

Courtesy : Daily Tribune:  25th September, 2020