Bandipora: A top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander was among two militants killed in a gunfight with government forces in Bandipora on Monday.
The encounter broke out on Sunday evening at Lavdoora village in Bandipora.
Forces had cordoned off a house after receiving specific input about presence of militants in a house. During searches, militants opened fire triggering a gunfight in which a militant was killed in the initial firefight.
The operation was suspended during night and firing resumed on Tuesday morning. During the fire, one more militant was killed.
Bodies of the slain militants were retrieved from the site of encounter.
A police handout identified one among the slain as Talha from Pakistan. It said that the slain was operating as commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba in the areas of Bandipora.
“He was wanted by law for his involvement in terror crimes and civilian atrocities,” the spokesperson said, “He was part of groups involved in planning and executing terror attacks in the area. Several terror crime cases were registered against him for his involvement in terror crimes.”
The police said that incriminating material including goods bearing “Pakistani marks” and arms & ammunition were recovered from his possession. “All the incriminating materials have been taken into records for the purpose of investigation and to probe his complicity in other terror crimes,” it added.
However, the identity of the second killed militant is being ascertained, it said urging people to “cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any.”

Reader correspondent