Two foreign terrorists of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba were killed in an encounter with security forces in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir on Tuesday, officials in Srinagar said.
Security forces launched an anti-militancy operation in the wee hours in Hadoora area of Ganderbal district, 25 km from Srinagar, following information about presence of terrorists in the area, an army official said.
He said as the security forces were closing in on the position of the militants, the latter opened fire on the troops who retaliated.
“In the ensuing gun battle, two militants were killed,” he said.
The official said the slain terrorists have been identified as Abu Anas and Abu Ali, both foreigners, who were associated with the Lashkar outfit.
The official said two AK assault rifles, ammunition and hand grenade were recovered from the possession of the slain terrorists.
“It (killing of terrorists) is a good success for the security forces especially as it comes ahead of the January 26 (Republic Day),” he said.
The official said the security forces followed the standard operating procedure while dealing with the terrorists to ensure that the civilians and their property did not suffer any damage during the operation.
This is second major encounter in Kashmir this year.
Security forces killed three local terrorists in an encounter in Pahalgam area of south Kashmir on January 16.
Meanwhile in Jammu, a terrorist trying to sneak into the Indian territory by crossing the Line of Control was killed in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district
The troops detected the movement of terrorists along the LoC, a defence spokesman said.
Troops engaged the infiltrating terrorists with effective automatic fire while drawing heavy retaliatory fire, he said adding a terrorist was eliminated in the operation while the other members of the group fled towards Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
The body of the terrorist has been recovered along with a weapon and ammunition, he said.
“This action by the Army assumes significance in view of the large number of intelligence reports of likely terrorist attacks around 26 January,” the spokesman said.
“Pakistan continues in its nefarious designs of supporting and abetting infiltration across the LoC,” he said, adding the army is keeping a strict vigil across the LoC and is prepared to thwart any designs of Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.
IMAGES: Security forces during an encounter in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. All Photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com
