LeT militant killed in Handwara

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 19

At least one militant suspected to be a Pakistan national was killed in a gunfight in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Thursday.

The encounter broke out at Batapora in Handwara around 4 pm when security forces were combing a forest area during a cordon and search operation.

The gunfight broke out after the suspected militant fired at security personnel. “The fire was retaliated and in the ensuing encounter the terrorist was successfully eliminated by a joint patrol. No collateral damage was witnessed during the encounter,” a police spokesman said.

He said on the basis of the incriminating material recovered, the killed militant was suspected to be a foreigner (Pakistan national) affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Toiba.

“Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site,” the spokesman said, adding that the combing operation which was still underway was being jointly carried out by the J&K Police, 47 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF.