2 Lashkar terrorists killed in Sopore encounter

SRINAGAR: Registering a major success, a joint team of J&K Police, 22 Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF gunned down two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, including a foreign national, in an encounter at Nathipora in Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday.


The slain foreign terrorist — identified as Hamas alias Asrar alias Saria — was involved in the killing of two councillors and a policeman in Sopore on March 29 this year, a top police officer said.


Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said that on a specific input provided by Kupwara police regarding the presence of terrorists at Nathipora, the joint cordon and search operation was launched. When the search team closed in on the suspected spot, the hiding Lashkar terrorists fired upon security forces, triggering the encounter, during which the former were given an opportunity to surrender but they didn’t.

Finally the two were killed and security forces recovered arms and ammunition, including an AK-47 rifle and an Insas rifle, from the site of the encounter. Further search is in progress.

Police said, based on the similarity with a photograph, the slain local terrorist could be Wasim Ahmed Lone of Hatlangoo in Sopore. His family is being called to identify the body.

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in Sopore police district, the authorities have suspended internet services in the area.

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