Two LeT militants holed up in Srinagar killed in encounter

SRINAGAR::Two militants holed up in a building close to a CRPF camp in Srinagar Karan Nagar have been killed and a mopping operation was on, IGP SP Pani said on Tuesday, a day after the gunfight broke out.

The exchange resumed at day break and the security forces were preparing for a final assault when the militants opened fire, a Central Reserve Police Force official said. “Bodies of two terrorist have been recovered and the final clearing operation is on,’’ inspector general of police (Kashmir Range) Pani said.

Ravideep Sahi, IG-CRPF, Srinagar, said the forces recovered two AK-47 assault rifles and eight magazines from the site.

The death of two militants takes the toll in the latest encounter in J&K to three.

CPRF trooper Mujahid Khan was killed and a policeman injured on Monday a few hours into the exchange that started after an alert guard foiled an attack on the paramilitary force’s camp situated in a densely populated area.

Security forces were combing the area to ensure that no militants were still hiding.

The two militants are yet to be identified but director general of police SP Vaid said they belonged to Pakistan based Lashkar-eTaiba, which had claimed the attack on Monday.

“Two bodies of terrorists recovered so far with weapons. Well done boys by neutralising terrorists without collateral damage.’’ Vaid tweeted.

Karan Nagar is a residential and commercial hub. Shops and commercial establishments were closed and the movement of vehicles restricted in the area as security forces battled the militants.

The exchange started on Monday morning after a CRPF guard foiled an attack on the camp. At around 4am, constable Raghunath Ghait saw two armed men dressed in army fatigues moving towards the camp.

He warned them but when they didn’t stop, Ghait opened fire. The two men took up position in a nearby building and firing started, Ghait told HT over the phone on Monday evening.

The CRPF and police surrounded the building and managed to neutralise the militants.

The IG-CRPF said forces conducted a comprehensive recce of the area and devised a strategy before launching the operation.