LeT terrorist killed in Pulwama encounter

SRINAGAR: Security forces on Tuesday gunned down a terrorist affiliated to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said.

The slain terrorist was identified as Owais Raja, a resident of Subhanpora in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Acting on a specific input about the presence of a terrorist in Charsoo area of Awantipora in Pulwama, security forces launched a cordon and search operation there, a police spokesperson said.

“The operation was launched by police, army’s 42 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 130 battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the area. During the search operation, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the search party, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved,” the spokesperson said.

“He (Owais Raja) was part of a group involved in several terror crime cases, including attack on security forces,” the officer added.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar termed the operation “very important”.

“This operation took place very close to the national highway and threat was imminent,” he said in a statement.

Police said incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including one AK-56 rifle, three AK magazines and 80 AK rounds, were recovered from the site of encounter.

“All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation. A case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation is underway,” the spokesperson added.