LeT commander, SPO among four killed, RDX recovered in J and K

Srinagar, July 25 (UNI) A Special Police Officer (SPO) and a commander of Pakistan based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) were among four people killed while security forces busted a hideout and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition, including RDX in Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Baramulla, Viplav Kumar said the operation against a militant holed up in a house, since last evening was going on when the reports last came in.

Official sources said with the first light today, security forces and SOG launched an offensive against two militants, who were firing on them from the house, often changing positions.

They said security forces killed one of the holed up militants while another was still firing and hurling grenade.

The slain militant was identified as Abu Talha a LeT commadner, reportedly a foreign national.

The encounter ensued after an SOG and security forces joint search party was about to storm the house of Ali Mohammad at Lama Mohalla, Nadihal, Bandipora, yesterday afternoon. Two SOG jawans Waheed Ahmad and Shah Nawaz and a woman Dilshada were injured in firing. The injured were admitted to hospital where Waheed Ahmad succumbed to his injuries.

An official spokesman said a boy Tariq Ahmad died when he was hit by a stray bullet in his home in the area where the encounter was on.

Two houses were damaged in the gunfight.

Sources said all the residents in the nearby houses were evacuated to safer places and efforts were on get the other militant.

Spokesman said throat slit body of a shepherd Chaman Lal was recovered at Nighar Dhar Dhok in Doda district this morning.

Security forces busted a hideout at Bhaderwah and recoverd two UBGLs, four AK magzines with 300 rounds of ammunition, five kg RDX, one bundle of electric wire, three detonators and 200 kg of rice, flour and other eatables. However, no one was arrested.

UNI