Srinagar, April 01: A Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant was killed and two soldiers were injured in an overnight gunfight in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Friday, officials said.

“Based on specific input regarding presence of (militants) in Turkwangam area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police alongwith (army’s) 44RR and 178 battalion CRPF in the area,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.

“During the search operation, as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding (militant) fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter,” he said.
In the ensuing encounter, he said, one militant was killed. He has been identified as Muneeb Ahmad Sheikh son of Shah Mohammad Sheikh of Tak Mohalla Shopian, affiliated with LeT. Official sources said the he had joined militant ranks in January this year.

The police spokesperson said that “incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including a Chinese pistol, one magazine and 5 rounds were recovered from the site of encounter.”

”As per police records the killed was a categorized (militant) and part of groups involved in several cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities.”

Meanwhile, army in a statement while the cordon was being tightened at around 10:30 pm on Thursday, the militant lobbed a grenade, causing injuries to two soldiers of the Indian Army, who were subsequently evacuated to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar.

“Fire continued to be exchanged throughout the night into the intervening morning of April 1,” he said, adding, “The (militant) was subsequently neutralized. A thorough search of the house was conducted in the morning and on finding no other (militants), the operation was called off. Warlike stores have been recovered from the encounter area,” army said in a statement”. Sources identified Sep Anil Kumar and Sep Bikas Singh.