Photo: Sajad Hameed
Himalayan Mail News Service, Budgam, JAN 17
Two terrorists of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit were today gunned down by security forces in an encounter near the court complex in Budgam district of the valley.
Acting on a specific information about the movement of terrorists, a joint team of Army & police laid a naka near the Budgam court complex, officials said.
When the forces tried to stop a vehicle near the court complex, the terrorists, who were travelling in it, fired upon them. In retaliatory fire, the forces killed both the terrorists in a brief exchange of fire, the officials added.
The slain terrorists were identified as Arbaaz Mir and Shahid Sheikh. Both hailed from Pulwama district. ADGP, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said they were affiliated to the proscribed LeT outfit.
Both of them had escaped from a cordon and search operation last week in the nearby Magam area, he said.
One AK rifle and a pistol were recovered from them, he added.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in the valley, DGP Dilbag Singh said the terrorists were probably looking for a new hideout after they fled from the previous one last week.
“There was an operation in Redbugh area two days ago in which there was some firefight, but terrorists had managed to escape. We were looking for them and check-points had been put up for that,” he said.
“We had inputs about their movement in a vehicle. When this vehicle was signalled to stop, terrorists came down and started firing. In the retaliatory fire, two terrorists were killed,” Singh said.