Srinagar, Nov 6: Two militants of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) and a civilian were killed and a militant surrendered during an encounter which ensued after security forces launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Pampore areas in south Kashmir, officials said.
Giving details about the encounter, they said, on a tip-off about the presence of militants troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF launched a joint CASO at Meeg Lalpora, Pampore, in Pulwama district on Thursday evening.
However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village, militants hiding there hurled grenades and resorted to indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons, they said adding security forces also retaliated ensuing in an encounter.
Two civilians were injured in the shootout. They were immediately shifted to a hospital. One of the injured identified as Abid Nabi died in SMHS hospital Friday morning.
Sources said CASO was halted due to darkness last night adding this morning with the first light when search operation was launched again, militants opened fire. Security forces made repeated announcements to holed up militants to surrender who continued firing. Security forces also returned the fire and in the ensuing gun battle a militant was killed.
Security forces again appealed to militants to surrender, they said adding family members of a local militant who was trapped in the area also joined to appeal him to lay down his arms. After some time the local militant surrendered before the security forces. He said he had recently joined militancy and will now a peaceful life with the family.
Nine militants were allowed to surrender by security forces during live encounters in the Valley during the past about two months.
Sources said after some time another militant in the area also opened fire ensuing in a fresh encounter during which he was killed.
Bodies of both the militants were recovered, they said adding large incriminating material, including arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants who belong to LeT, the officials said.
