Security forces gun down 4 LeT militants in 2 separate encounters

So far, 200 militants have been killed in 2017

Four militants were gunned down by security forces in two separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The police said all of them belonged to Lashkar- eTayyaba ( LeT). Among them was a commander of the outfit identified by it as Pakistani national Muzzamil, they added.

Three militants were killed in a fire fight in Futlipora village of Pakharpora area of the Valley’s central district of Budgam, the Army and J& K police officials said. The fourth was shot dead by the security forces in Sagipora woods in Baramulla district. The deceased, Muzamil, is a resident of Pakistan, said cops. A soldier of the Army’s 9 Para was also injured in this clash.

Meanwhile, the statistics released by the police state that for the first time in seven years, more than 200 militants have been killed by security forces in 2017.

J& K’s director general of police Shesh Paul Vaid corroborating it, tweeted: “Today by the collective effort of @ JmuKmrPolice, Indian Army, @ crpfindia, CAPF and people of Kashmir have led to neutralisation of more than 200 militants in the year of 2017 alone.” In his second tweet, he said: “This marks a huge landmark for establishing peace and stability in the state of J& K and our country.”

The Army and police officials said that the security forces from J& K police’s counterinsurgency Special Operations Group ( SOG), the Army’s 10 Garhwal and the CRPF laid siege to Futlipora at dawn on Thursday after receiving specific inputs. defence spokesman, Col. Rajesh Kalia, said that four militants were killed during the encounter. However, Budgam’s SSP Tejinder Singh said that only three bodies along with weapons were found at the encounter site.

A statement issued by the J& K police confirmed that only three militants were killed at Futlipora. It added that three AK rifles with 3 magazines and 111 rounds and other ammunition were found on slain men.

While the security forces were encircling a private house where militants were hiding, the latter opened fire at them, triggering an encounter, the officials said.