SRINAGAR: Two militants and a soldier were killed in an encounter that raged after Lashkar-e-Toiba militants attacked an army convoy at Qazigund area on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.
A group of militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba attacked an army convoy, which was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar, at Bonigam area of Qazigund on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in Anantnag district this morning.
A soldier was injured in the militant attack and he was evacuated to military hospital in Srinagar for specialised treatment.
After the attack on army convoy, the army, CRPF and policemen men laid siege around the area and launched combing and search operation to track down the militants responsible for the attack.
“The security personnel encircled a house, where the militants had taken refuge. The militants fired on the search party,” he said.
The fire was returned by the troops, triggering an encounter.
“In the ensuing gunfight, two militants and an army man were killed,” the official said.
He said the combing and search operation in the area was going on when reports last poured in.
The house, where from militants were firing on the security personnel, was damaged in the gunfight.
J&K Director General of Police (DGP), S P Vaid, confirmed the killing of two militants.
He said bodies of both the militants have been recovered.
As the gunfight erupted between the militants and security forces, the locals of the area took to roads and attempted to march towards the encounter site amidst chanting of pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
The youth pelted stones on the security personnel, who retaliated by firing pellets, bullets and tear smoke shells to disperse them.
At least three civilians sustained injuries in the security forces action and they have been hospitalised.
Earlier, Lashkar-e-Toiba had claimed responsibility of attack on army convoy.
“Bashir Lashkari squad of the outfit attacked army convoy in Qazigund today. Four army men were killed and several others injured in the attack,” Lashkar spokesman Dr Abdullah Ghaznavi said in an emailed statement.