Srinagar: Police on Sunday said that three militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed during a gunfight in Rebban village of Sopore, in Baramulla district.
Police in a statement said that on a specific input generated by Sopore Police regarding presence of militants in village Rebban area of Sopore, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by JKP, 22RR and CRPF in the said area.
During the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter, the spokesman said.
In the ensuing gunfight, three militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of gunfight. Two of the killed militants were foreigners and have been identified as Abu Rafia alias Usman and Saifullah, both resident of Pakistan.
The statement added that Abu Rafia alias Usman was active in the valley since year 2016. They were involved in many militant incidents including the recent Sopore incident on July 1, 2020, in which one CRPF personnel and a civilian was killed.
Police said that identification of third killed militant is being ascertained.
Arms and ammunition including 3 Ak-47 rifles and other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of gunfight and searches are in progress, the statement added.
In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Sopore and investigation has been initiated.
Police said that people are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.
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