Srinagar, June 3 :
Security forces shot dead two militants including one of the longest surviving Lashkar-e-Taiba ultra in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday, officials said.
While police said that the identities and group affiliation of the duo was being established, official sources said that one of the slain was top LeT commander Riyaz Ahmad Dar alias Khalid alias Sheeraz, a resident of Sethar Gund Kakapora Pulwama who was active for the last nine years.
“Dar, in his mid thirties, joined militancy in 2015 and was active in the district. His killing is a big set back to the LeT,” a security official said.
Police said the encounter between militants and joint forces erupted at Nihama Pulwama area early this morning during a cordon and a search operation by joint forces.
“The joint operation was launched last night following an input. This morning as the joint team of security forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon them, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. In the encounter that lasted several hours two terrorists were killed,” a police officer said.
He said the two ultras were given an opportunity to surrender. “However, they did not heed to the calls and opened fire on the joint forces,” he added.
A house where the militants were believed to be trapped caught fire during the gun battle.
