3 LeT militants gunned down by security forces in Sopore

Srinagar, Jun 3 (PTI) Three hardcore LeT militants,
including the main accused in the killing of Hurriyat leader
Shiekh Abdul Aziz, were Friday gunned down in an encounter in
Baramulla district of north Kashmir, police said.
The Lashker-e-Toiba militants - two locals and a
Pakistani national - were killed in a 12-hour-long operation
at village Seer in Sopore town, 55 kms from here in the north
Indian state Jammu and Kashmir, Inspector General of Police,
Kashmir, S M Sahai said.
He said the slain militants included Faisul Ghazzali,
the main accused in the killing of moderate separatist leader
and chairman of People's League Sheikh Abdul Aziz during a
rally in August 2008.
"Ghazzali was one of the most wanted local militants
in Sopore area as he was involved in numerous civilian
killings," Sahai said. The other two deceased have been
identified as Abdullah Babur, a Pakistani national, and his
another local accomplice Ghulam Nabi Dar - all affiliated with
LeT.
Earlier, defence spokesman Lt Col J S Brar said the
encounter broke out Thursday evening when troops of 52
Rashtriya Rifles and police launched a joint operation in the
village after getting information about their presence.
The militants were holed up in an under-construction
house adjacent to the Law College and were asked to surrender
after being encircled, he said, adding they opened fire
leading to a gunbattle.
The operation was suspended for the night but the
cordon continued to ensure that the militants did not escape.
Security forces launched the final assault soon after
day break and the encounter ended at around 0600 hrs (IST),
the spokesman said.
Three AK rifles, six magazines and three RPG boosters
have been recovered from the scene of the gunbattle, he added.