Five militants killed as Bandipora encounter ends

Three more militants were killed on Friday in an overnight encounter with security forces in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, taking the death toll of ultras to five.

Police said the gunfight raging in Sumlar forests of Bandipora since Thursday afternoon ended with the killing of five militants. “The bodies of the slain militants have been retrieved,” Superintend Police (SP) Bandipora, Zulfikar Azad told reporters.

However, he said the identity of the slain militants was yet to be established.

The security forces had launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the area following information about the presence of militants there, following which the gunfight broke out.

Of late Bandipora has emerged as a bastion of LeT, whose presence in the area surfaced after forces killed at least six militants including Zaki-ur-Rahman’s nephew Owaid alias Osama, and two top commanders Zargar and Mehmood, at Chandergeer village in Hajin.

In the first week of this month, three LeT militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with forces in Parray Mohalla, Hajin. In March this year, a Lashkar militant was killed by forces in a gunfight in Hajin.

In all gunfights in the area since November 2017, the slain militants were seen to be affiliated with the LeT. These gunfights mainly took place in Hajin and its adjoining areas.