Jammu: Police on Tuesday said one of the two militants killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district last week had travelled to Pakistan on a valid Indian passport in February 2018.

Two militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Rajouri district on Friday.

“One of the militants (who was killed in the encounter) has been identified as Ramees Ahmad Tantray son of Mohd Yusuf Tantray, of Ramnagri (Shopian district). He had travelled to Pakistan on a valid Indian passport in February 2018,” Rajouri SP Sheema Nabi Qasba, who led the operation, said.

She said Ramees was not known to have returned thereafter.

“Further verification of this is in process,” the SP said, adding that the identity of the second militant is yet to be ascertained.

On August 6, information was received by the Jammu and Kashmir Police about the presence of a group of militants in Pangai village.

A joint search operation was launched by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

During the search, the joint party came in close contact with militants who started firing upon the search party, which retaliated effectively, in which two militants were successfully neutralised.

Two AK-47 rifles with nine magazines and 232 rounds, four grenades, ammunition pouches, batteries, bandages, pills and other materials were recovered.

In this regard, an FIR was registered at Thanamandi police station.

PTI

Press Trust of India