A militant belonging to Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Tayiba was killed in an encounter with security forces in Budgam district of Kashmir Valley on Thursday, police said.
The militant, identified as Umar Bilal from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, was killed in a gunfight in Hushroo village of Chadoora area of the central Kashmir district on Thursday morning, a police spokesman said.
He said a joint team of police and security forces had on Wednesday laid a cordon around the village after receiving intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
As the forces started search operations, the militants hiding in a house in the village opened fire, following which the forces retaliated, the spokesman said.
There was intermittent firing during the night and a fierce gunfight started in the morning, resulting in the killing of the ultra.
The house was damaged in the gunfight and the body of the militant was recovered from under the debris, he said. An AK-47 assault rifle and some ammunition were recovered from the debris, the spokesman said.
The search operation was launched following the arrest of local LeT operative Latief Ahmad Rather on Tuesday.
Based on the information provided by the arrested operative, the security forces cordoned off Ichkoot village near Chadoora, but the militants had managed to escape.
Image used for representational purpose only
