2 LeT militants killed in Shopian gunfight

Shopian : Two militants were on Monday killed in a gunfight that broke out between government forces and militants in Khawjapora Reban village of Shopian district in the wee hours.
An official said that slain militant Ishfaq Shabir Ahmad Malik son of Abdul Ahad Malik resident of Tungandoo village of Yaripora belt in Kulgam district, was missing from last more than one year while another militant was been identified as Aamir Ahmad Dar son of Gh Mohammad Dar resident of Wanduna Melhoora village of Shopian district.
Police said that Shabir was working under code name of Abu Mawiya and was active since 2017 December while as another one Amir of Wanduna of Shopian had joined militant ranks in 2019. “They were associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit,” the police spokesman said
A police spokesman said that following specific inputs about the presence of militants, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched by a joint team of forces including 1 RR, 178 battalion CRPF and Shopian police in the area.
“As forces zeroed in towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon forces, which was retaliated triggering an encounter,” he said, adding that “in exchange of fire, two militants who were trapped in the house of Abdul Samad were killed”.
As forces were leaving the area after encounter ended, youth pelted stones on them, which was retaliated by disbursing tear smoke and sound shells. Police said that one AK-47, one UBGL and one AK 47 magazine and other ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, internet services have been suspended in Kulgam and Shopian districts of southern Kashmir