LeT commander Among 3 Militants Killed In Handwara, Shopian

Slain Also Include A 19-Year-Old Who’d Joined Hizb On August 10
Srinagar, Aug 19: A top Lashker-e-Toiba commanded and a 19-year-old youth who had joined militant ranks only nine days back was among three militants killed in separate gunfights with government forces in Handwara area of Kupwara district and Chitragam Mulu area of South Kashmir’s Shopian.
According to the reports, a joint team of Police, Army’s 44 RR and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search-operation amid specific inputs about the presence of the militants.
As the joint team encircled the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them. The fire was retaliated by the joint team, triggering off an encounter in which one militant was killed.
As the guns fall silent, sources said, the joint team launched a massive search operation, recovering body of the one militant while two others reported escaped.
The slain militant was identified by the official sources as Talib Hussain Mir son of Nissar Ahmad Mir, a resident of Malikpora Shopian who according to them had joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen ranks on August 10 this year. However till filing of this report, official confirmation was awaited as also recovery of arms and ammunition from the site of gunfight.
Two militants have been killed in the encounter at Ganipora Kralgund area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Official sources said that two militant have been killed in the Initial exchange of firing. He said the identity of the militant was yet to be ascertained.
He said that gunfight erupted in an orchard while combing operation is going on.
“LeT commander Naseer-u-Din Lone who was involved in the killing of three CRPF jawans at Sopore on May 4 this year was among slain militants,”, police in a tweet.
Earlier, a joint team Police, army’s 32 RR and CRPF launched a joint cordon-and-search operation in the area, there was firing upon the team from militants hiding in the area. The fire was retaliated, triggering of an encounter, they added.