Two Pakistan-based militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in a joint operation in Kashmir’s Sopore area on Sunday even as security forces are on a high alert in view of US President Barack Obama’s visit to India from January 25.
A number of operations against LeT and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) are being carried out amid intelligence alerts that militants might strike during the US president’s visit. A unified headquarters meeting comprising top officials of all security wings is being convened by Jammu and Kashmir governor NN Vohra soon amid reports of rising militancy in the state.
Army and police conducted a raid on Saidpora village, 55 km north of Srinagar, on Sunday. The holed-up militants fired at the security forces who retaliated and in the ensuing encounter two militants were killed.
“Two militants were killed in the exchange of fire,” said Srinagar-based spokesman of police headquarters.
The slain militants, identified as Assadullah and Mohammad Ramzan of LeT, were foreigners.
Two AK rifles, two magazines, 140 AK rounds, two intercom sets, three GPS among others were recovered from the slain militants.
Eight militants have been killed in the last one week in three separate encounters in north and south Kashmir.
{{/usCountry}}Eight militants have been killed in the last one week in three separate encounters in north and south Kashmir.
{{/usCountry}}While five militants of JeM were killed in Shopian district, one LeT militant was killed in Sopore earlier.
Sources said the JeM is planning a comeback on a large scale in Jammu and Kashmir. Around half a dozen Jaish militants have also been arrested since last year.