Four LeT militants killed in Shopian encounter

They were behind the recent targeted killings of non-locals, say police

Four Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, who were behind the recent targeted killings of non-locals, were killed in an operation in south Kashmir’s Shopian on Thursday. Two soldiers, on their way to the encounter site, were killed and two others injured when their vehicle met with an accident.

“The four LeT terrorists neutralised in the encounter were active in Shopian and adjacent areas of Pulwama. They were involved in six terror crimes, including attacks on outside labourers. A hunt is on for their associates including Aijaz of Pulwama and they will be neutralised soon,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said.

A police spokesman said two soldiers were killed when a vehicle carrying them from the Army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifles Chowgam camp to the encounter site at Badigam, Shopian, met with accident. “The driver lost control over the vehicle due to some technical fault. It skidded off the road. Four soldiers were injured and two among them died,” the police said.

Preliminary reports suggested that all the slain militants were locals. The militants were encircled during an operation launched following a tip-off. The trapped ultras opened fire on the search party, resulting in the encounter in which all the hiding militants were killed.

The operation was launched a day after the militants shot dead a Kashmiri Hindu, Satish Kumar Singh, a driver by profession, in Kulgam’s Kakran area.

Meanwhile, the last rites of the deceased driver were held at his native village in Kulgam. It was joined by local Muslims, who condemned the attack on unarmed civilians.

“Nothing is in our hands. We are equally pained by the incident. Whatever happened is wrong. It should not have happened as he [Singh] did no wrong,” a local said.