Lashkar commander, 3 policemen and one CRPF jawan killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 23 (UNI) Four security personnel and a top commander of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in a fierce encounter on the outskirts of the city today, official sources said.

The Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a joint operation at Tealbal, about 18 km from here, early this morning following a tip off about the presence of militants there, the sources said.

As the security forces were sealing the area, a militant hiding in the paddy field hurled hand grenades and resorted to indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons on them.

The sources said three SOG personnel, identified as selection grade constable Bashir Ahmed, constable Irshad Ahmed, constable Mohammed Kabir and constable Sham Singh of 122 battalion CRPF were killed. Sub inspector Umesh Thakur and constable Mushtaq Ahmed were injured in the attack.

The fire was retaliated and the militant was killed, they said.

A police spokesman identified the slain militant as Abu Faisal, a resident of Pakistan, a self-styled Divisional Commander of LeT.

He was operating in the Ganderbal and Kangan area, he said, adding Faisal was given additional task to cause large scale disturbances in the city. One AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant.

UNI BAS RP GC1749