LeT commander, 2 local militants killed in Pulwama gunfight

Pulwama: A Lashkar-e-Toiba commander and two militants were killed in an overnight encounter that raged in New Colony area of Southern district of Pulwama, police said Wednesday.
A police official said that joint teams of Police, Army’s 55 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the New Colony area late on Tuesday night after receiving a specific leads about the presence of militants in a house.
The official said that as the joint teams of forces approached towards the suspected house, the hiding militants opened fire, which was retaliated, after which heavy exchange of gunfire took place. “The exchange of fire remained on intermittently throughout the night and with the first light of the day on Wednesday, three militants were killed in a final assault.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said three militants including a foreign LeT commander Aijaz alias Abu Huraira were killed in Pulwama operation. He congratulated the security forces for successful operation. Witnesses, however, said that the house where militants were hiding suffered immense damage during the encounter.
Soon after the gunfight ended, the authorities in Pulwama imposed strict curfew in main town as a precautionary measure while as internet services remained suspended.
An official said that curfew was imposed in entire Pulwama town “as a precautionary measure” to avert any untoward incident. “Announcements were made in the town about the curfew,” the official said. Locals of Pulwama, however, said that soon after encounter youth hit the streets and engaged forces in clashes at main town.