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Army claim to have hobbled militant leadership in Kashmir

With the killing of seven top-ranked militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba on Sunday, the army has claimed to have wiped out their entire leadership operating in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to defence sources, seven Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, including a woman collaborator, were killed in two fierce encounters with security forces in Poonch district.

The militants were foreigners, including an Afghan and four Pakistanis. They were identified as Abu Adil alias Ahaji of Kabul (Afghanistan), the district commander of Let, Abu Hamra alias Mohammad Shahid of Shekhpora (Pakistan), Abu Khatada alias R Gaznavi of Multan (Pakistan), Abu Johar of Gujranwala (Pakistan) and Mohammad Younis from Lahore (Pakistan).

During the search of the militants' hideout, the soldiers found a half-burnt body of a woman and her identity was being ascertained, the sources said.

A defence spokesperson said that following a tip-off regarding the presence of militants on the higher reaches of Badi Bachak in Surankot area of Poonch district, the soldiers launched a joint operation with a special task force. They allegedly cordoned off the area, plugging all escape routes.

Seeing the soldiers approaching their hideout, the militants began firing at them. The soldiers returned the fire. The exchange of fire continued for hours, the spokesperson said.

When the militants stopped firing, the soldiers entered their hideout and found the partially burnt bodies of the militants. A substantial quantity of arms and ammunition was also recovered from the site.

Reinforcements were rushed to the area and a massive combing operation launched for the remaining militants.

In another encounter, the security forces gunned down Farooq Ahmed Bhat in Tota Gali area of Mendhar sector. The spokesperson said Farooq, of Ganderbal (Srinagar), entered Indian territory from the Pakistani side early yesterday.

Security arrangements have been tightened along the Line of Control following reports that militants from Pakistan are seeking to to cross over to the Indian side, the spokesperson said.

UNI

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