2 terrorists killed in encounter in J-K's Handwara

Photograph: ANI

Two Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Galoora area of Handwara, in the north Kashmir district on Tuesday morning following specific information about the presence of terrorists there, police spokesman said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter after terrorists fired upon the search party of the forces.

The security forces retaliated and killed two terrorists, the spokesman said, adding some arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of the encounter.

The spokesman identified the slain terrorists as Furqan Rashid Lone alias Adil and Liyaqat Ahmad Lone alias Sahaba alias Umar Khalid.

Both were affiliated with the LeT, he said.

The spokesman said Furqan, a resident of Shartpora area of Langate in Kupwara, was wanted in a number of criminal cases.

Liyaqat, a resident of Harwan area of Sopore in the neighbouring Baramulla district "had a long history of involvement in terror related activities and was wanted in a number of criminal cases including kidnapping and rape of a minor local girl”, the spokesman said.

He said Liyaqat along with other LeT terrorists, Gani Khawaja, a resident of Kralgund and Majid Mir, a resident of Nowpora Sopore was involved in the murder of Hakim-ur-Rehman, a resident of Reshipora Bomai, who was shot dead on Saturday.

Rehman was an activist of the hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.