SRINAGAR: Four local terrorists of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were shot dead by security forces in an encounter in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Thursday, said Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar.
The Kashmir Police said all they were active in Shopian and Pulwama districts and a hunt to track down their accomplices was underway.
The encounter took place in Badigam locality of Zainapora area after a joint party of the police and the Indian Army cordoned off the area to flush out hiding terrorists. During the search, the terrorists opened fire on the security personnel, leading to a gunfight which ended in the death of four terrorists.
They have been identified as Aaqib Farooq Thoker & Waseem Ahmed Thoker — both residents of Heffkhuri in Zainapora, and Farooq Ahmad Bhat & Shoqeen Ahmad Mir of Sugan area.
The slain terrorists were involved in six terror crimes including attacks on non-local labourers, IGP Kumar informed.
“All the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists and part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police/SFs and civilian atrocities,” the police said.
“Killed terrorist Aaqib Farooq Thoker was involved in snatching of 12 bore rifle from JK guard Murran TP branch in which the bank guard Abdul Hamid Wani of Tahab got injured. He was also involved in Case FIRs 25/2022 & 26/2022 of PS Litter pertaining to attack on driver namely Deeraj Dutt resident of Pathankot and cleaners namely Surinder Singh and Sonu Sharma resident of Pathankot at Nowpora and Yadar respectively in which they got injured,” the police added.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.
Meanwhile, a vehicle carrying Army personnel en route to the encounter site skidded off the road near Kanipora village in Shopian, resulting in the death of three soldiers and injuries to five others.
“Owing to the wet road conditions, the driver seemingly lost control over the vehicle and it skidded off the road,” the Army said.
The Army as well as the police refused rumours that the Army men were killed in stone pelting.