Top Lashkar commanders among five gunned down

Jammu, Apr 13 (UNI) Security forces today gunned down top five Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including three senior commanders during a raid of a hideout where militants had gathered for a meeting in Kishtwar district, about 275 km from here.

Army sources said tha operation, which was launched by 11 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police on specific information about presence of a group of militants at Tatapani area of Nowpachi, Marwah, commenced this afternoon at 0300 hrs.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Udhampur-Doda Range L Mohanty told UNI that five militants have been killed so far, while the operation was still on. The slain militants reportedly include three top commanders but their identity could not be ascertained immediately.

Sources said a top level meeting of LeT was in progress when security forces raided the hideout. Details of the encounter revealed the army intelligence and police had received specific inputs that LeT militants' from North Kashmir and Marwah area of Kishtwar will gather at Tatapani, Nowapachi for a meeting.

''Based on the inputs, a massive operation was launched and troops were deputed from two different directions to the area. The well planned operation was carried out under the direct supervision of senior army commanders and Doda SSP Manhor Singh, the sources said.

Huge quantities of arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of the encounter. Troops were clearing the debris of the hideout which was completely damaged in the operation so as to dig out the bodies, they added.

UNI