A local militant affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants outfit was killed in a gunfight that broke out in Arihal village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday evening.
Reports said that acting on specific intelligence regarding the presence of militants in Arihal village, Pulwama, a joint cordon-and-search operation was launched by the Pulwama Police, Army (44RR), and CRPF (182Bn) in Arihal village.
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They said, during the search operation, the joint team encountered indiscriminate firing from the hiding militant. The security forces effectively retaliated, leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing exchange, militant identified as Kifayat Ayoub Alie, son of Mohd Ayoub Alie, a resident of Pinjoora Shopian, associated with the proscribed outfit LeT, was killed, and his body was recovered from the encounter site.
An official said, police records indicate his involvement in several terror-related crimes, including in Case FIR No. 123/2021, FIR No. 294/2021, and Case FIR No. 180/2023 of PS Shopian.
Significant incriminating materials, along with arms and ammunition, including one pistol, two magazines, five RDS, and two grenades, were seized from the encounter site. All recovered items are now part of the case records for further investigation.
A case under relevant provisions of law has been registered, and the investigation has been taken up, he further added.
With inputs from Agencies
