Three foreign terrorists were killed while an Army porter died during a gunfight that broke out in Jumagund village of north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday.
A J&K police spokesperson said an ambush was put in place by J&K police and Army based on a specific input developed by Kupwara Police regarding infiltration attempt of terrorists in Jumagund village near the Line of Control area of Kupwara.
“As the infiltrating terrorists were intercepted by the joint party of Police & Army, they were challenged who in return fired indiscriminately upon joint party which was retaliated by the joint party leading to an encounter,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“In the ensuing encounter, all the three infiltrated terrorists were killed. Based on the source report and as per the documents recovered from them, the killed terrorists have been identified as Pakistani LeT terrorists,” the statement said.
“Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including 03 AK series rifles, 12 AK Magazines, 01 Pistol, 02 Pistol Magazines and 03 Mobile Phones have been recovered from their possession,” it said.
“IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar termed the elimination of 03 Pakistani LeT terrorists as a big success and congratulated the joint forces for successive operations leading to the elimination of 06 foreign terrorists in last 24 hours which adds the tally of killed foreign terrorist to 26 (14 JeM & 12 LeT) during the current year in the valley,” officials said.
Police have registered a case in this regard and further investigation has been initiated, the statement said.
This was the second encounter in north Kashmir in less than 24 hours. Earlier, three Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists and a cop were killed in a gunfight in Baramulla district yesterday.
Meanwhile, an Army porter, who was critically injured on Thursday during the gunfight in Kupwara district, succumbed to injuries, officials said.
“Pakistan’s nefarious designs to revive the dying agenda and keep the pot boiling in J&K under the garb of Ceasefire Understanding by Pakistan Army is the new deceit. The elimination of three Pakistani terrorists, recovery of war like stores to include stores for Improvised Explosive Devices is a clear indication of an intent to disrupt peace, prosperity of locals and the impending Amarnath Yatra,” an Army spokesperson said.
In a tweet, Kashmir Police Zone wrote: "One Army’s porter namely Ab Lateef Mir S/o Majeed Mir resident of Kuchiban Jummagund, got injured in the said encounter. Later on succumbed to injuries in hospital.”
Pertinently, three foreign LeT terrorists were killed this morning during a gunfight in Jumagund area of Kupwara.
At least 80 terrorists have been killed in encounters with security forces in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir.