2 LeT militants killed in Pulwama encounter

Two militants of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayiba were on Tuesday killed in a fierce gunbattle with security forces during an overnight operation in Pulwama district of south Kashmir that also left a policeman injured.

The encounter triggered protests in the area with some youths pelting stones at the security forces.

"Two militants belonging to LeT have been killed in the encounter," police said.

They said the deceased have been identified as Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Tilangam and Showkat Ahmad Lone, a resident of Lelhar areas of the district.

Police said the two militants were killed in the paddy fields between Ratnipora and Naru villages, where they were trapped by the search parties early Tuesday morning after the gunfight resumed.

They said a policeman was also injured in the exchange of fire and was taken to a hospital.

Acting on specific input about the presence of militants in Ratnipora area of the district, a joint team of police and army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation late on Monday.

As the search operation was on, the hiding militants fired at the security forces. The forces retaliated triggering an encounter, the police said.

The gunbattle stopped late last night but resumed on Tuesday morning with the first light of the day. It ended with the killing of both the militants.

Meanwhile, some youths staged protests in the surrounding areas of Rantipora on Tuesday morning after the resumed. Some youngsters started hurling stones at the security forces. 

Army personnel take position outside the house where militants were hiding during an encounter at Ratnipora Pulwama. Photograph: Umar Ganie