2 LET terrorists killed in gunfight near Srinagar

nSRINAGAR:TWO terrorists affiliated with the Lashkar-e-taiba were killed in an encounter on the outskirts of Srinagar on Saturday, officials said.

Police officials said that a joint cordon and search operation was launched following information about the presence of militants in village Ranbirgarh in Panzinara area of Srinagar.

‘’During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained, they were given opportunity to surrender. However, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,’’ the spokesman said.

“One of the two terrorists eliminated was Ishfaq Rashid of Sozeith, Srinagar – a top LET commander who was active since 2018 and wanted in many cases of violence. The other killed terrorist, Ajaz Bhat was in the LET cadre from Pulwama district.’’

Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of encounter, the spokersperson said. “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes. There was no injury to civilians or loss of property during the said encounter.’’

Bodies of the deceased militants have been sent to Ganderbal for last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities, the official said.