Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, their “accomplice” and a policeman were killed in a fierce encounter in the heart of Srinagar’s Fateh Kadal on Wednesday morning, fuelling a spate of protests in the capital.
“The police and the CRPF launched a joint operation after receiving specific inputs about the militants’ presence inside a house in the city. The hiding militants opened fire when the search party arrived at the house. A policeman was killed. Later, we recovered three bodies — two militants and their active accomplice — at the encounter site,” Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh said. The deceased constable was identified as Kamal Kishore. Two jawans were also injured.
The slain militants were identified as Mehraj-ud-Din Bangroo from Fatehkadal’s Narparistan and Fahad Mushtaq Waza from Khanyar. “Bangroo was active since 2015 and was involved in many attacks and weapon snatching,” said DGP Singh.
People carry the body of LET militant Fahad during his funeral procession in old city Srinagar on Wednesday.
Locals claimed the third man was a civilian, Rayees Ahmad, and was the son of the owner of the house where the militants were hiding. Hurriyat alleged that Ahmad was killed in “cold blood.” The police said it is investigating the “complicity of Ahmad.” The killings triggered a shutdown and street protests. Security forces fired smoke shells and pellets to chase away the protesters. All educational institutions were closed.
The separatist Joint Resistance Leadership has called for a shutdown on Thursday.
