Shopian, August 30: Three local militants affiliated with LeT were killed in a gunfight that broke out between militants and government forces at Nagbal village of Zainapora area in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, officials said on Tuesday.

An official said that on specific input about the presence of militants, a joint team of police, Army and CRPF after receiving information about the presence of militants launched search operation in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces intensified searches towards suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the party, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter.

He said during exchange of fire, three militants were killed who were affiliated with LeT and have been identified as Danish Tanveer Bhat resident of Ladi Imamsahib, Tanveer Wani  from Amberbugh Shopian and Tawseef Bhat from Chermarg Shopian.

ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that trio were involved in several militant crime cases and Danish was involved in recruiting youth into militant folds.

The 3 killed militants have been identified as local militants of LeT namely Danish Khursheed Bhat, Tanveer Wani & Towseef Bhat. They were involved in several #terror crime cases. Militant Danish was involved in #recruitment of youth into terror ranks in Shopian.” Kashmir Police Zone tweeted while quoting ADGP Kashmir.

A police spokesman in a statement  said that acting on a specific information generated by Shopian Police regarding the presence of militants in village Hushangpora Nagbal area of Shopian, a joint cordon & search operation was launched by Police, Army (44RR) and CRPF (178Bn) in the area.

“During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” the spokesman said, adding that in the ensuing encounter,  three local militants of LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. “The slain were identified as Danish Khursheed Bhat son of Khursheed Ahmad Bhat resident of Ladi Imamsahib, Tanveer Ahmad Wani son of Bashir Ahmad Wani resident of Amarbugh, Imamsahib and Towseef Ahmad Bhat son of GH Nabi Bhat resident of Chermarag,” he said.

The police said that all the killed militants were categorized and involved in several  crime cases including attacks on Police/security forces and civilian atrocities.

“The slain Danish, Khursheed Bhat and Tanveer Ahmad Wani who were active since August-2021, were trying to revive the militancy folds by recruiting & motivating the gullible youth to join militancy. Moreover, the killed terrorist Danish Khursheed had earlier escaped from several encounters,” the police spokesman said