LeT ultra from Pak killed in Ganderbal encounter

SRINAGAR: A Pakistani militant belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit was killed in an encounter between the ultras and the security forces in Ganderbal district on Tuesday, even as an Army soldier also received injuries in the gunfight.
Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Kulan area of the central Kashmir district in the morning following inputs about the presence of militants.
“During the search, the hiding militants fired upon the security forces, who retaliated leading to an encounter,” a police spokesman said.
In the ensuing gunfight, a militant was killed during the gunfight, he said.
He identified the slain militant as Khalid alias Zebran, a resident of Pakistan.
“As per the police records, he was affiliated with proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and was wanted by law for his involvement in crimes and civilian atrocities.
“According to the police records several crime cases were registered against him for his involvement in crimes,” said the spokesman.
“Incriminating material including arms & ammunition have been recovered from his possession. All the incriminating materials have been taken into records for the purpose of investigation and to probe his complicity in other crimes,” said the spokesman.
An army soldier was also injured in the operation and was rushed to a medical facility for treatment, the official said.
“The operation is on and further details are awaited,” he added.
This is the second encounter to have been raged in Valley in past three days in which three militants have been killed.
On Sunday, an encounter broke out when the security forces launched a search operation in Bandipora district of north Kashmir. While one militant was killed on Sunday during the gunfight in Lawdara village, about 55 km from Srinagar, another was killed the day after.
One of the two militants killed was a Pakistani-born self-styled commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
"One of the killed terrorists has been identified as Pakistani code-named Talha," a police spokesperson said, adding that the identity of the other militant was being ascertained.
As per the police records, Talha was operating as a commander of the LeT in the areas of Bandipora and wanted by law for his involvement in terror crimes and civilian atrocities.