J&K: Two LeT militants killed, another surrenders in Kulgam encounter

Srinagar: Two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed and their third accomplice was caught alive during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s southern Kulgam district on Sunday.

The J&K police and Army officials here said that the encounter broke out in Chidder village of Kulgam’s Qaimoh tehsil early Sunday after the security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation following inputs about the presence of militants there.

“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed while a third one surrendered and was subsequently arrested by the security forces,” a police spokesman said.

The officials said that the identity of the slain men, as well as their arrested colleague, is being ascertained.

Earlier Director General of Police, Shesh Paul Vaid, had tweeted, “Encounter at Chadderbhan Kulgam, 2/3 Terrorists trapped. Good luck to our men from J&K Police/Army/ CRPF”.

In another tweet, he said, “Reportedly two terrorists killed so far.”

The officials said that the trio had been trapped in a private house during the search operation and when the security forces zeroed in, the militants opened fire, triggering the encounter.

However, one of them subsequently gave up and handed himself over to the security forces.

While the encounter was underway, massive clashes between surging crowds and security forces erupted in the area. The security forces fired dozens of teargas canisters to quell the mob, the witnesses said.

Internet services were suspended in Kulgam soon after the encounter began.

Meanwhile, a youth injured during a similar clash in Khiram Srigufwara area of neighbouring Anantnag on June 22 succumbed to injuries in Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) on Sunday.

He has been identified as 19-year-old Shahid Nazir Hajam. Four militants reportedly affiliated to the Islamic State or Daesh were killed in Friday’s encounter.