Top LeT commander, junior Army officer among 4 killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 4 (UNI) A top commander of Pakistan based Lashker-e- Toiba (LeT) and a junior Army officer were among four people killed and a militant, evading arrest since 2004, was apprehended in the Kashmir valley today.

This was the second major encounter in north Kashmir and the first this year where two Army Majors and nine militants, including a top commander, were killed at Tangmarg in the 36-hour gunbattle yesterday.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, S M Sahai said acting on a tip - off provided by police, a joint operation was launched by ten Para, 23 Punjab and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police at village Gamroo in Bandipora district today.

During the operation, an encounter took place between the militants hiding in a house and security forces.

A JCO and two LeT militants were killed in the encounter, he said adding two Ak rifles, six magazines, two pouches, 106 rounds of ammunition and two hand grenades were recovered from the slain militants.

Mr Sahai said one of the militant was identified as Musa lias Wafa self styled Divisional Commander of LeT.

Describing it a big success, the IG said the killing of Musa was a major jolt to the LeT in north Kashmir.

A police spokesman said body of one Altaf Ahmad Waghi was recovered from Sangarwani Rajpora in Pulwama today.

He said militant Shamim Ahmad Sofi, wanted since 2004 in a number of militancy - related incidents, was today arrested by police at Tral, about 35 km from here in Pulwama district of north Kashmir.

UNI