Five ultras killed in Baramulla were Lashkar men

The five foreign militants who were killed by the army, in the forests of Lidder Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, were fresh infiltrators and affiliated to Lashkare-Taiba.

The army had launched operation on Sunday after they received an input that a group of militants were hiding in the upper reaches of Rafiabad in Hamam forests, however, on Wednesday morning army established contact with them.

Later, five foreign militants were killed in the operation.

Commander, 7 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, brigadier Dharam Raj said the slain militants were foreign militants who had recently infiltrated from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

“Large scale search operations were launched by the forces on August 5. Two days later, the troopers were able to pinpoint militant location. On August 8, the militants fired on the soldiers injuring one of them. After a fire fight, five militants were neutralised,” the Commander, 7 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, brigadier Dharam Raj said.

The four AK 47 rifles and one pistol were recovered from the militants who were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, the brigadier added.

The bodies of all the militants were buried in the Hamam forests by the local villagers in presence of police officials.

The operation, launched by Army's 32 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 9 para commondos, took place in the area which is used by militants as a transit point after crossing the line of control.

This is the second operation which the army launched in north Kashmir in a week.

Earlier, army had killed two infiltrators in Gurez sector.

Four soldiers were killed in the operation.

AN OFFICIAL SAID, FOUR AK 47 RIFLES AND ONE PISTOL WERE ALSO RECOVERED FROM THE MILITANTS WHO WERE AFFILIATED TO LASHKARETAIBA