Baramulla: Three militants including Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Usman Bahi from Pakistan were killed in an encounter between forces and militants in Reban area in the outskirts of Sopore town in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Sunday.
Senior Superintendent of Police Sopore, Javeed Iqbal said that three militants have been killed in day long gunfight at Reban Sopore and arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession.
He said that a joint team of Jammu and Kashmir police, 22 RR, and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search-operation at 4 am on Sunday after receiving a tip-off about the presence of militants in Reban area of Sopore.
Hiding militants opened fire on forces triggering a gunfight. In the initial exchange of fire gunfire one militant was killed. As the exchange of fire continued, two more militants were killed before the operation was called off.
Srinagar based Army Spokesperson Rajesh Kalia also confirmed the killing of three militants. He said three AK Rifles were recovered from the encounter site.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said one of the slain militants was a Pakistani national involved in an attack on security forces at Sopore in which one CRPF man and a civilian were killed.
“One Pakistani LeT militant Usman killed in the encounter. He was involved in recent terror attack at Sopore in which one CRPF jawan was martyred and one civilian was killed. Big success for police and security forces,” the Kashmir Zone Police’s Twitter handle quoted him as saying.
Identification of the two other militants was being ascertained, police said.
Meanwhile, authorities suspended internet services in parts of Sopore following this gunfight.
