<p>A Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant from Pakistan, who was an IED expert was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday.</p>.<p>The encounter erupted after a joint team of Army’s 19-Rashtriya Rifles and J&K police launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) in Larnoo, Anantnag, 65 kms from, here, early Saturday morning following inputs about the presence of a militant there.<br /><br />“During the search operation, as the presence of militant got ascertained he was given the opportunity to surrender, however, he fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” a police spokesperson said.<br /><br />He said in the ensuing encounter, one Pakistani militant identified as Nasir alias Shakeel Saab alias Shak Bhai was killed. Nasir, according to police, was a 'category A' militant and an IED expert affiliated with the LeT outfit.</p>.<p>“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter,” the spokesperson added.</p>.<p>In relentless anti-insurgency operations, security forces have killed nearly 195 militants, including 26 foreigners, in 82 operations across Jammu and Kashmir this year. In October, 13 militants, including four foreigners, were neutralized in the Valley.</p>.<p>As many as 157 militants were killed in Kashmir in 2019 while the number was 257 in 2018 which was the highest in a decade.<br />In 2019, out of 157 slain militants 32 were Pakistanis and majority of them 19 belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit. </p>.<p>In 2019, local militants accounted for 79% deaths in encounters while the number has grown to 88% this year.</p>
<p>A Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant from Pakistan, who was an IED expert was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday.</p>.<p>The encounter erupted after a joint team of Army’s 19-Rashtriya Rifles and J&K police launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) in Larnoo, Anantnag, 65 kms from, here, early Saturday morning following inputs about the presence of a militant there.<br /><br />“During the search operation, as the presence of militant got ascertained he was given the opportunity to surrender, however, he fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” a police spokesperson said.<br /><br />He said in the ensuing encounter, one Pakistani militant identified as Nasir alias Shakeel Saab alias Shak Bhai was killed. Nasir, according to police, was a 'category A' militant and an IED expert affiliated with the LeT outfit.</p>.<p>“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter,” the spokesperson added.</p>.<p>In relentless anti-insurgency operations, security forces have killed nearly 195 militants, including 26 foreigners, in 82 operations across Jammu and Kashmir this year. In October, 13 militants, including four foreigners, were neutralized in the Valley.</p>.<p>As many as 157 militants were killed in Kashmir in 2019 while the number was 257 in 2018 which was the highest in a decade.<br />In 2019, out of 157 slain militants 32 were Pakistanis and majority of them 19 belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit. </p>.<p>In 2019, local militants accounted for 79% deaths in encounters while the number has grown to 88% this year.</p>