LeT comdr among two killed in Sopore

Army men taking positions in Rafiabad area of Sopore in Baramulla district during an operation against militants on Wednesday.
Army men taking positions in Rafiabad area of Sopore in Baramulla district during an operation against militants on Wednesday.

Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 9: An Army personnel was killed in Pakistani sniping in Macchil sector of North Kashmir district of Kupwara today while security forces killed two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) including its commander in Sopore area of Baramulla district.
A soldier of Army’s 17 Sikh Regiment, Satnam Singh, was killed in Macchil sector of LoC in Pakistani sniping today. A senior officer said that the Army personnel was targeted by Pakistani sniper from a Pakistani post. He said that the jawan airlifted to Srinagar’s Base hospital for treatment but he succumbed. He said that Army retaliated heavily by targeting Pakistani posts in Macchil and Keran sectors inflicting heavy losses on them.
Sources said that heavy firing is going on between Pakistani and Indian troops in Macchil and Keran sectors. Both the sides are firing mortars at each other’s posts. The two sectors are active for last few weeks after the beheading of a soldier in Macchil sector.
A defence spokesman said here that one soldier was killed in sniping by Pakistani troops in Macchil sector today. He said that Indian Army targeted Pakistani posts with heavy fire in retaliation of killing of the soldier. “One soldier martyred in Pak sniping at Macchil Sector. In retaliation fire assault with heavy weapons was being directed on many Pak posts”, he said.
In the meantime, a militant commander of LeT and his associate were killed in a fierce gun battle in North Kashmir’s Rafiabad area today.
Superintendent of Police Sopore, Harmeet Singh, told Excelsior that security forces cordoned off Drusu village after a tip off about the presence of two militants hiding in the village.
Singh said that Police and Army launched a joint operation against the two militants during which both of them were killed in the gun battle. He said that they have been identified as Abu Maaz and Abu Raafi. He said that Abu Maaz was an LeT commander.
The SP said that they were active in Rafiabad area of Baramulla for last 3 months and security forces were tracking them. He said that their killing is a big success for the security forces. He said that two AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered from their possession.
Sources said that both these militants had infiltrated into Kashmir early this year. They said that their role in the attack on Langate Army camp is being investigated.
In the meantime, security forces averted a major tragedy today as they detected and defused a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by militants, on Srinagar-Kupwara road in north Kashmir.
Police said that an IED was found planted by militants on the roadside near Wadhpora in Handwara, which was later destroyed by the Bomb Disposal Squad.
Police have registered a case and started a manhunt to nab the militants who planted the IED on the roadside.

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