2 Terrorists Killed in Kashmir Firing

Srinagar: The security forces on Friday gunned down two militants in a fierce gunfight in the Kashmir Valley’s northwestern Baramulla district, the officials said. One of the militants killed has been identified as Saifullah, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander who figured in the list of “most wanted terrorists” by the security forces, the officials said here. They added that the identity of the second slain militant is being ascertained.

A report said that two Army jawans and a civilian were injured in the initial exchange of fire on Thursday.

The Army and J&K police officials here said that the fighting broke out between a group of militants and the security forces in the Nowpora area on the peripheries of the apple-rich town of Sopore on Thursday evening. The exchange of fire resumed at first light on Friday after a night-long halt and both the holed-up militants were gunned down in the security forces’ final assault soon thereafter.

Inspector general of police (Kashmir range) V. K. Bhirdi said, “As per the documents recovered from the slain, one terrorist has been identified as Saifullah.” He added that arms, ammunition and other incriminating material were found on the slain men.

While the gunfight was underway, the authorities ordered suspension of classwork in all educational institutions including colleges in the Sopore tehsil “as a precautionary measure.”