SRINAGAR: Two militants of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), suspected to be a part of outfit’s sniper squad, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in the Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday, police said.
The terror outfit later claimed that one of the slain militants — identified as Mohammad Usman — was the nephew of JeM chief Masood Azhar. The other militant has been identified as Showkat Ahmed.
Security forces have also recovered M-4 Carbine rifle from the encounter site which was possibly used by the group to carry out sniper attacks on security forces, they said.
Last week, an Army jawan and a Seema Shashtra Bal personnel were killed in the sniper attacks in Tral area.
A police officer said acting on a tip-off, a team comprising members of the Army, the CRPF and J&K police entered the Chaanketaar village in Tral.
“As the security men were conducting searches and approaching the house where they thought the militants were holed up, they came under fire, triggering a gunfight,” he said, adding that the encounter lasted for over five hours.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir SP Pani told TNIE searches were being carried out across the region after the encounter.
NIA raids properties of Kashmir businessman
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out raids at residence and shop of absconding Kashmiri businessman Nasir Safi Mir, who is accused of funding separatist leaders, in Srinagar.