Lashkar Man Killed in 24-hr Gunfight: Army

SOPORE: Militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba received a major setback on Monday when one of its top commander Mehmood Bhai alias Huraira who according to police was adept in breaking the Army cordon lost his life in an overnight encounter in

Krankshivan Colony of North Kashmirs Sopore town. Another militant Javid Ahmed Matoo according to a police official managed to flee from the spot.

Reports said a cordon was laid around Abdul Gani Guru, an affiliate of Hurriyat G, in Kranshuvan Sopore, where as per police inputs militants were staying. “Paramilitary forces and the personnel of 22 Rashtriya Rifles cordoned off the area but the militants came out from the house and took refuge inside a Saw Mill,” a CNS report said.

Sources added that two LeT militants fired indiscriminately on government forces after they were instructed to surrender before the police. On police request, even the mother of Javid Ahmed Matoo was brought near the encounter site wherefrom she appealed her son through a loudspeaker to surrender before the police but the police said her son declined the appeal.

A police official said on condition of anonymity that Javid Ahmed Matoo son of Abdul Gani Matoo resident of Khushalmato Sopore managed to break the cordon and fled from the Saw Mill. We have recovered the body of only one militant who has been identified as Mehmood Bhai alias Huraira of Pakistan while another local militant have escaped unhurt, he said. Meanwhile an army statement claimed that another militant was attempting to escape but the soldiers manning the cordon successfully managed to nab him alive. “The second militant who has been apprehended has been identified as Waseem, resident of Palhalan and has been handed over to Police. Both the militant belonged to LeT Tanzeem. Troops also recovered One AK 47 rifle along with two magazines, 20 rounds of ammunition and one grenade. During the operation which lasted more than 24 hours, two Jawans got injured as they sustained gunshot wounds,” a statement circulated by KNS claimed. The official further added that Hurrairah was active in North Kashmir and had escaped unhurt in various encounters with government forces. Reports said that Hurriarah like in past this time also tried to break the cordon, however, he received few bullets during the process and was killed. Police recovered one AK-47 rifle and a magazine from his possession. Sources said that during the gunfight at least two Army personnel received bullet injuries.

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