Srinagar: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on Monday, police said.
Two soldiers and a dog of the Army were also injured in the operation, an official spokesperson said.
The security forces — police, Army’s 19RR and CRPF 164Bn — launched a cordon and search operation in the Tangpawa area of the south Kashmir district late on Sunday night after receiving specific input about the presence of terrorists there, a police official said.
“As the forces were conducting searches in the area, the terrorists fired at them. The forces retaliated and an encounter ensued,” he said.
“In the exchange of fire, two terrorists were killed this morning,” he added.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said the slain terrorists belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
“Two local categorised #terrorists linked with proscribed #terror outfit LeT killed in #encounter. They were involved in several terror crime cases,” the ADGP said.
Police spokesman identified them as Aasif Ahmad Reshi, son of Mohammad Yaseen Reshi, resident of Sheikhpora Marhama Bijbehara, and Wakeel Ahmad Bhat, son of Abdul Ahad Bhat, resident of Naibasti Marhama.
As per police records, “both the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police and security forces and civilian atrocities,” police spokesman said.
He said incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.
In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress.
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area at the encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” spokesman added.
Meanwhile an Army spokesperson said two soldiers and an Army dog were injured in the exchange of fire.
The soldiers were evacuated to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital here and are stable, he said.
The Army sent its assault dog named Zoom inside the house on Monday morning where the terrorists were holed up, the Army officials said.
“Zoom is a highly trained, ferocious, and committed canine. Has been trained to locate and bring down terrorists,” they said.
Zoom has been part of many active operations in south Kashmir, they said.
However, during the operation today, the canine received two gunshots and was critically injured, the officials said.
Zoom was rushed to the Army’s Vet Hospital here where the canine is currently under treatment, the officials said.
