Top LeT militant killed in Kashmir’s Anantnag

SRINAGAR: Security forces on Saturday used explosives to blast a house in Anantnag district in Kashmir Valley killing two holedup LeT militants, including top commander Bashir Lashkari who was behind the killing of five policemen and an officer last month.

Two civilians, including a woman, were also killed in the cross-fire between security forces and the hiding militants in Brenthi Batapora village in Anantnag district.

The civilians were part of a stone pelting crowd of protesters attacking the security forces during the operation. Security forces said the gunfire exchanges at the shootout site in Brenthi Batapora village had stopped after the house was blasted.

“Two militants have been killed whose bodies were seen under the debris of the house that was brought down to ensure that militants did not escape,” a senior police officer said.

“The identification process of the slain militants is underway, while a search operation at the encounter site is going on to ensure there are no other militants hiding,” the officer added. One of the two slain militants is said to be Bashir Lashkari, a top LeT commander who carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. He belonged to Kokernag area. The other slain militant is believed to be Azad Ahmed Malik alias Tada who belonged to Arwani village area of Anantnag. Lashkari, according to security forces, had masterminded and carried out an attack in Achabal area of Anantnag last month in which six policemen, including Station House Officer (SHO) Feroz Dar, were killed and their bodies mutilated.

A middle-aged woman identified as Tahira and a youth, Shadab Ahmad, were killed in the cross firing between the security forces and the hiding militants in Brenthi village, according to a police official.