Two LeT militants killed in Sopore encounter
Clashes erupt near encounter site
Sopore: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in Sopore area of Baramulla district, police said Thursday.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Brath Kalan area of Sopore on Wednesday evening following information about presence of militants there, a police official said.
He said the operation turned into an encounter after militants opened fire on security forces.
Identifying the slain militants as Owais Ahmad Bhat alias Abu Bakar son of Ghulam Ahmad Bhat resident of Gund Brath Sopore and Tahir Ahmad Dar alias Abu Abdullah son of Mohammad Ramzan Dar resident of Saidpora Sopore, police said both were affiliated with LeT outfit.
Police said that both the militants were wanted for complicity in ‘terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities.’
A huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including rifles, were recovered from the encounter site, the official said.
Meanwhile, soon after the news about killing of two local militants spread, large number of people assembled near the encounter site and started stone pelting which resulted into clashes.
Sources said that during clashes several youth were injured.
The clashes erupted despite police issuing advisory asking people not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.
Educational institutions in Sopore closed for today
Srinagar: Following the killing of two militants and subsequent clashes, the authorities on Thursday ordered the closure of all educational institutions in Sopore area of Baramulla on Friday.
An official spokesman said that all the educational institutions, Govt or privately run, shall suspend their class work tomorrow in the area in view of the prevailing situation as a precautionary measure.”
The order has been forwarded to all ZEOs, Principals, Headmasters and in-charge educational institutions for information and compliance.
