Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 31: Security forces killed a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant in an overnight encounter in Baramulla while a hybrid militant was also arrested today.
An official said that acting on specific information generated by police regarding the presence of a militant in village Binner Baramulla, security forces including Police, 46 RR of Army, 2nd Battalion of SSB and 53rd battalion of CRPF cordoned off the area.
He said that during the search operation, as the troops approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon them leading to an encounter.
One local militant identified as Irshad Ahmad Bhat son of Fayaz Ahmad, resident of Wailoo Pattan Baramulla of LeT was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of the encounter.
As per police records, he has been active since May 2022. Before joining militancy, he was working as an HM associate along with his father who was a Hizb commander and was killed in 2015 at Devbug in Baramulla.
The records revealed that Irshad was involved in several militancy related cases including attack on two civilians – Abdul Rehman Wani and Aftab Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Gundari Pora Baramulla at their native village on 11.08.2016 in which both received critical gunshot injuries. He was also involved in the killing of a civilian Zakir Hussain Bado of Mahmood Pora at Wailoo Baramulla on 09.11.2016.
He was arrested by security forces in 2017 along with arms and ammunition. After five years, he was released on bail by court in April 2022 but he did not refrain from his activities and formally joined LeT in May 2022.
One AK series rifle, two magazines and 30 rounds have been recovered from the site of encounter.
Meanwhile, in Bandipora, police along with 26 Assam Rifles of Army arrested a hybrid militant of LeT identified as Faisal Gulzar son of Gulzar Ahmad, resident of Hillar Arhama Anantnag who was missing July 17 this year.
“Incriminating material, arms and ammunition including one pistol were recovered from his possession,” police said.
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