MILITANTS KILLED IN J&K IDENTIFIED AS PAK NATIONALS

The Jammu and Kashmir police have identified the two militants who were killed at Malganipora Sopore encounter as Pakistani militants affiliated with Lashka-e-Toiba.

Police identified the two militants as Abu Maz and Ali alias Zubair.

Officials said Maz was a prominent militant commander and was active in the area from past three to four years, especially in Sopore, Rafiabad and Rajwar belts of north Kashmir. Officials also said that he was involved in attacks and fresh recruitment of youths into militancy. Officials said that slain Lashkar commander was an A-category militant who was carrying reward on his head.

In last two days, four Lashkar militants were killed in two separate encounters in Baramulla district. Two militants were identified as locals and two as foreigners. An army soldier and two militants were killed in the encounter that began on Friday morning.

SHUTDOWN IN VALLEY

Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in the Valley against the landing of Indian soldiers in Kashmir on 1947. The call for the shutdown was given by Joint Resistance Leadership – JRL, led by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik.

Shops and business establishments remained closed and additional troopers and police personnel were deployed at sensitive spots.

To avoid an untoward incident, the railway authorities had also suspended the Baramulla – Banihal rail service.

ONE OF MILITANTS WAS ACTIVE IN THE VALLEY FROM PAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS AND WAS INVOLVED IN ATTACKS