2 LeT militants killed in encounter

Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including commander Bashir Lashkari, were shot dead in an encounter with security forces at Brenti-Batpora village in Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday. While a middle-aged woman was killed in the crossfire, another civilian died in clashes that erupted at the site.

Lashkari was allegedly involved in the killing of six security personnel last month. The second militant was identified as Abu Maj from Pakistan.

Though 17 people were rescued from the house in which the militants were holed up, security personnel said a 44-year-old woman named Tahira lost her life in the shootout. The people were allegedly being used as human shields. A couple of weapons were recovered from the scene.

The man killed in clashes with security personnel outside the house was identified as 21-yearold Shadab Ahmad Chopan.

Confirming the incident, deputy general of police SP Vaid said security personnel had been pursuing Lashkari since he and his men killed station house officer Feroz Dar and five other policemen on June 16. The militants had fired at them from a close range, mutilating their bodies.

Lashkari was the district commander of the LeT in Anantnag. A resident of Sopshail Kokernag, he was categorised as an A++ militant with a bounty of ₹10 lakh on his head.

Senior superintendent of police (Baramulla) Imtaiz Hussain congratulated the personnel involved over a job well done. Slogans like ‘SHO Feroz Amar Rahe’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ were also raised by personnel.