5 Lashkar, among 7 militants killed, tragedy averted in Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 28 (UNI) Five Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) ultras were among seven militants killed while a major tragedy was averted by the security forces in the Kashmir valley today, official sources said.

Jammu and Kashmir police and 14 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) launched a joint operation at Shokabab Gujjar Pati, Bandipora, about 60 km from here in north Kashmir, where polls were held in the first phase on November 17, following a tip off about the presence of militants in a retired Army officer's house Lateef Khan.

They said during the operation, militants attacked the search party with automatic weapons and hand grenade from the house and its cowshed, triggering an encounter.

Security forces used mortar shells and blasted the house when militants refused to surrender, after the inmates were rescued.

They said all the five LeT militants were killed and five AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were also recovered from them.

Two houses and two cowsheds were also damaged in the encounter, they said.

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