Three militants were killed in two separate anti-militancy operations of the security forces in the Kashmir valley on Monday, taking the toll to seven in the past 24 hours.
Police said more militants were killed at Chandigam in Kupwara’s Lolab, where an encounter started on Sunday. An arrested militant, Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, who was “trapped” during the search operation in the area, is among the dead.
“A total of four militants were killed. Incriminating material, arms and ammunition, were recovered,” police said.
All the slain militants were affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The police identified them as Bambar Khan, Al-Bakash, Aftab Bhai, all from Pakistan, and a local militant, Showket Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Sedow in Shopian.
"Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including two AK-series rifles, six AK Magazines, an M-4 rifle along with a magazine and three live grenades were recovered from their possession," the police said.
Meanwhile, an LeT militant was killed in an overnight gunfight in Chatapora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The police identified the slain militant as Suhail Ahmad Khan from Maidan Chogal, Handwara. An encounter started in the area after a joint team of the security forces came under fire from hiding militants.
Two militants — identified as Haris Sharief from Srinagar, a ‘C’ category militant affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Zakir Padder from Kulgam, a ‘C’ category militant affiliated to the Jaish-e-Muhammad — were killed in an operation in Kulgam’s D.H. Pora area in south Kashmir on Sunday.
“So far, 114 militants have been killed in the Valley this year, including 32 foreign militants, compared to 21 killed last year,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said.
