Anantnag: Two local Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, one of them Naveed Bhat alias Frurqan, a category A++ militant active since July 2018, and Aqib Yaseen Bhat, a category C militant active since June 2018, were killed on Saturday in a gunfight with government forces here in Sangam area of Anantnag district.
Both the slain militants were residents of Qaimoh village in Kulgam district, police said.
The gunfight took place at about 3 AM Saturday morning in Naina village of Sangam.
“We had specific inputs regarding their movement in the area and an ambush was laid accordingly to intercept them,” a senior police official said.
The official said that the militants were crossing the Jhelum river in a boat when they were spotted and asked to surrender.
“They opened fire instead, which was retaliated to. In the brief exchange of fire, both the militants were killed,” the police official said.
He said that arms and ammunition was retrieved from the bodies of the militants. The bodies were later handed over to the militants’ families after identification and other medico-legal formalities.
Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh described the encounter, as another successful operation by forces. He said that
Naveed had joined the LeT outfit in 2018 and was involved in a number of militancy incidents.
“Seven FIRs stand registered against him. He was involved in carrying out attacks on police and security forces camps, firing on civilians, threatening and intimidating people and shopkeepers and pasting posters post the abrogation of Article 370, he told reporters here.
He said Aqib Yaseen Bhat was active since June 2019 and was also involved in a number of militancy incidents.
Hundreds of people later assembled in Qaimoh area of Kulgam district to attend the funeral prayers of the slain.
A complete shutdown was observed in the area and some adjoining parts. The 2G internet service was suspended in Kulgam and Anantnag districts for the day.

Suhail A Shah