Army jawan, 5 LeT ultras killed in Pulwama gunfight

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 2

Security forces today neutralised five Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including district commander Nishaz Lone, in an encounter in the Hanjin Rajpora area of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. One Army jawan was also killed in the exchange of fire.

Vijay Kumar, IGP, Kashmir, said, “District commander of proscribed terror outfit LeT Nishaz Lone and a Pakistani terrorist have been neutralised in the ongoing Pulwama encounter. A total of five terrorists have been killed in the gunfight.”

Following the information about the presence of militants in Rajora, the security forces, in a joint operation, launched a cordon and search operation, officials involved in the operation said.

“When the security forces were moving towards the targeted house after sealing all exit points, militants hiding inside opened indiscriminate fire,” an officer said, adding that subsequently it turned into an encounter.

He said in the initial exchange of fire, an Army soldier, Havaldar Kashi Rao, was injured. He later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in the Valley. Soon after, reinforcements were rushed to the area and five militants were killed.

Kumar said the operation was a “big success” for the forces.

Ex-filtration bid in Baramulla, 4 held

Srinagar: The police on Friday arrested four youths trying to cross the LoC to enter PoK in Baramulla district. “An ex-filtration bid has been foiled with the arrest of four youths, who were heading towards the LoC to enter PoK via Gowhallan sector in Uri,” a police spokesman said. Incriminating material, including knives, was recovered from their possession, he said. A case has been registered against them. PTI