L-e-T top commander Naseeruddin & a militant killed in Kupwara

Srinagar: With the first light Thursday morning, security forces resumed Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Handwara in the frontier district of Kupwara, where two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including a top commander, were killed in an encounter.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said one of the two militants killed was a top LeT commander Naseer-u-din lone who was involved in the killing of six CRPF jawans at Sopore in Baramulla and Handwara, Kupwara in April and May this year.

A defence ministry spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia told UNI that troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), CRPF and Special Operation Group (SOG) launched a joint search operation in the orchards at Ganipora, Kralgund Handwara in the north Kashmir district of Kupwara on Wednesday night.

However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the orchards, militants hiding there opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons, he said adding the fire was returned ensuing in an encounter.He said two militants were killed in the encounter late in the night. Two AK rifles and other warlike stores have been recovered, Col Kalia said.

Additional security forces had been deployed in the entire area to prevent any attempt by militants to escape under the cover of darkness.With the first light this morning the CASO was again resumed, he said adding further details are awaited.

Meanwhile, IGP Kumar said LeT commander Lone killed in the encounter was involved in killing three CRPF jawans at Sopore on April 18, 2020, and 3 CRPF jawans at Handwara on May 4, 2020.(UNI)