Srinagar: Security forces shot dead a local Lashkar-e-Toiba militant in a gun battle in Kashmir, officials said on Friday. The encounter erupted at the Turkwangam area of Shopian district Thursday evening when joint forces of Police, Army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation against militants in the area. “During the search operation, as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed,” a police spokesman said. The slain was identified as Muneeb Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Tak Mohalla Shopian. Police said he was affiliated with LeT. “Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including a Chinese pistol, a magazine and five rounds were recovered from the site of encounter,” he added. “As per police records, the killed terrorist was a categorized terrorist and part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks and civilian atrocities,” the spokesman said. Meanwhile, security forces busted a module of Jaish-e-Mohammad(JeM) and arrested three militant associates in Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said. The trio has been identified by police as Owais Altaf, Aqib Manzoor and Waseem Ahmad Pandit, all the residents of Pulwama. The three were arrested by joint forces. Senior Superintendent of Police, Pulwama Ghulam Jeelani said an AK rifle, three magazines, 69 AK rounds and a grenade was recovered from them. “The trio were working for JeM outfit and where providing logistic and transportation to terrorists in the district,” said Jeelani. Police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and further investigation in on. UNI MJR GK
