LeT militant involved in killing of two Sopore sisters killed

Wasim Ahmad Ganaie, who had taken shelter in an underground drainage system in Muslim Peer area of Sopore yesterday, was killed in the wee hours today, officials said.

The officials said Ganaie was one of the two militants who had abducted and then shot dead Arifa and Akhter, the teenaged sisters, in the same area of Sopore on the night of January 31.

Security forces yesterday launched a search operation in Muslim Peer locality yesterday morning after inputs about two to three militants hiding in a medical shop.

As the security forces were closing in, the militants opened firing on them which was retaliated.

In the ensuing gunbattle, self-styled divisional commander of Harkatul Mujahideen outfit Chota Kalimullah alias Shamsher was killed yesterday.

He was also operating under the code name of Talwar Bhai, the spokesman said, adding an AK 47 rifle, six magazines and a pistol magazine were recovered from the scene of the encounter.

Some building were damaged during the operation and the security forces are searching through the debris.

The killing of the two girls had evoked a sharp reaction from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who had called the killers "heartless".

Lashkar-e-Toiba, which had initially denied its involvement in the killing of two teenage sisters later claimed responsibility and alleged the two sisters were working as "informers" for the security forces.