J&K: 5 LeT terrorists killed in encounter in Kulgam
At least five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were reportedly killed in an encounter with security forces in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. The gunfight between terrorists and security forces started on Thursday in Damhal Hanji Pora village, per the Kashmir Zone Police. This comes a month after two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists were killed in a similar encounter in the district.
Watch: Visuals from encounter site
'Incriminating materials recovered, operation in final stage': Police officer
A senior police official told India Today, "Five terrorists were neutralized by the Kulgam Police, the Army and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force)." "Incriminating materials were also recovered. Operation is in the final stage and the area is being sanitized," he said. On Friday, the second day of the operation, the forces tightened the cordon and searches in the area and cornered the terrorists.
Encounter triggered after 'cordon-and-search' operation
The encounter reportedly started after a joint team of J&K Police, Indian Army, and CRPF launched a "cordon-and-search operation" on Thursday following a tipoff about the presence of terrorists in the area. After the initial gunfight, the cordon around the area was tightened, and efforts to locate the terrorists were stepped up. The gunfight resumed early on Friday after a night-long lull, officials said.
Similar encounters in Kulgam, Shopian
The encounter comes days after a terrorist of the proscribed outfit, the Resistance Front (TRF), was killed during a clash with security forces in the Kantohalan area of Shopian district on November 9. In October, two terrorists were also killed in separate encounters with security forces in Kulgam. Later, police confirmed that the slain terrorists belonged to the banned terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).
