Srinagar: Security forces yesterday recovered bodies of six guerrillas at a Kashmir village a day after a fierce gunbattle. But police said the operation was not yet over.
Five of the Lashkar-e-Taiba guerrillas were killed Tuesday while the sixth was killed yes after security forces again came under automatic gunfire from him while approaching the encounter site to clear the debris, police said.
The encounter began Tuesday morning in Saidapora village near Sopore town in Baramulla district.
“Six bodies of militants have been recovered from the encounter site,” Sopore Superintendent of Police Imtiaz Mir said.
“The operation is still going on,” he added.
Mir said one of the slain guerrillas was identified as Athar Yousuf Dar, a resident of Bismilllah Colony in Sopore town. Dar’s body was handed over to his relatives for the last rites.
“The identity of others is being ascertained,” the police officer said.
Mir said the operation was launched by Sopore police and 22 Rashtriya Rifles early Tuesday.
The guerrillas were killed in a protracted gun battle when security forces surrounded two houses in the village where they were hiding.
Mir said the guerrillas entered Sopore from other areas to strengthen LeT’s depleting presence in the town.
IANS
