Published: August 16, 2009

Lashkar Militant Killed in Kashmir Gunfight

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Srinagar, Aug 16: A militant owing allegiance to the Pakistan based militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba was killed in a gunfight with Indian soldiers in restive Kashmir on Sunday.

A senior police officer told NewsBlaze that acting on a tip-off, police and army soldiers laid siege around Aarmullah village, Pulwama in south Kashmir in the wee hours of Sunday. "During the combing operation, the soldiers zeroed-in on a residential house where the militants were hiding. The militants were asked to surrender and lay down the weapons. They, however, turned down the offer and fired from sophisticated weapons towards the soldiers. The fire was returned and in the ensuing gunfight, which lasted for over half an hour, a Lashkar militant was killed," he said.

The slain militant was identified as Jan Mohammad Ahangar alias Hamza.

Meanwhile, Indian border guards claimed to have foiled an infiltration attempt of militants in Samba sector in the winter capital of the region on Sunday.

"We spotted three to four militants trying to sneak into the Indian side from near Malarh border post in Ramgarh sector. We challenged the militants and signaled them to stop. They, however, fired from automatic weapons and the gunfight continued for three hours during which they escaped," a BSF official said.

He said that they have launched a combing operation in the area to flush out the militants.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.