Former cop among two Lashkar militants killed in Shopian encounter
Srinagar, May 12 (UNI): Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including a cop, who deserted police last year, were killed by security forces in an encounter which ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Shopian district in south Kashmir, official sources said.
Mobile internet service has been suspended in Shopian as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of rumours.
Officials said on a tip-off about the presence of militants, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir and CRPF launched a joint search operation at Hend Sitapora, Shopian.
When the security forces were moving towards a particular area after sealing all exit points, the militants hiding there opened fire.
The fire was returned and in the fierce encounter, two militants were killed.
The body of the militants and a large number of weapons were recovered from the spot, they said, adding that the slain militants have been identified as Basharat Ahmad, resident of Nikloora and Tariq Ahmad of Khasipora.
Tariq, a police constable-turned-militant, had fled along with his service rifle on April 26 last year from Police Post Pakherpora and joined LeT.
Authorities suspended mobile internet and deployed a large number of security forces at different places in Shopian to prevent any demonstration.
A police spokesman said that with the efforts of police and security forces, it was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place during the exchange of fire.
He said citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.
People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitised and cleared of all the explosive materials if any.
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