Avenged Pulwama deaths by killing army captain in Pampore: LeT

Militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba has claimed that the three militants who died in the Pampore gunfight avenged the death of two Kakapora civilians by killing army captain Pawan Kumar.

Militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba has claimed that the three militants who died in the Pampore gunfight avenged the death of two Kakapora civilians by killing army captain Pawan Kumar.

Asif Farooq (20) and Shaista Hameed (22), both students and residents of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, were killed when security forces allegedly fired on a group of protesters near an encounter site in the district’s Kakapora area on February 14. One militant died while the other two had escaped.

In a statement issued to a Srinagar-based news agency on Tuesday, LeT chief Mehmood Shah said captain Pawan Kumar was responsible for the killings of the two Kakapora residents.

“Militants have paid back by avenging their deaths,” he said

In the 48 hour Pampore gunfight that ended on February 22, three militants, three army men, two CRPF personnel and one civilian had died, including Captain Pawan Kumar who was an elite para commando.

Shah also paid tributes to the three slain militants. “Due to precious sacrifices of these militants the sun of freedom will definitely rise in Kashmir. Frustration (has) dawned upon thousands of Indian troopers due to valiant show displayed by three militants,” he said.

“During Pampore gun fight it seemed that whole Kashmir nation was up in arms against India,” said Shah.