5 LeT militants killed in Jammu & Kashmir encounter; Indian army jawan succumbs to injuries

Five militants of terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, including its district commander Nishaz Lone, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of southern Kashmir on Friday, said the police.

One Army jawan, Hawaldar Kashi of 44 RR, who was injured in the encounter, later succumbed to his injuries. “District commander of proscribed terror outfit LeT Nishaz Lone alias Khitab and one Pakistani terrorist amongst five killed terrorists in Pulwama encounter. A big success,” inspector general of police in Kashmir Vijay Kumar tweeted.

The encounter started in the wee hours of Friday in Hanjin village of Rajpora hamlet in Pulwama when, acting on a specific input regarding presence of militants in the area, a joint team of police, Army’s 44 RR and Central Reserve Police Force launched a cordon and search operation. The militants fired upon the forces, triggering an exchange of fire, said the police. The authorities immediately snapped the mobile internet in the district. Officials said the militants were given an opportunity to surrender but they refused. According to the police, more than 66 militants have been killed in Kashmir so far this year .