LeT militant killed, SPO martyred in encounter in Baramulla

Srinagar: A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant and Special Police Officer (SPO) of state police were killed in an encounter in north Kashmir district of Baramulla on Wednesday.

This is the first encounter in the valley since August 5, when Article 370 and Article 35 A were scrapped by the Centre, triggering sharp reaction by the locals in Kashmir.

Officials sources said following specific information about presence of militants, a joint Cordon and Search Operations (CASO) was launched  by Special Operation Group (SOG) of the state police, Army and CRPF at the old Baramulla town on Tuesday night.

However, they said when security forces were moving towards a particular area, a militant hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons."The security forces retaliated, ensuing in an encounter," they said, adding a militant was killed while two SPOs were injured in exchange of fire on Wednesday morning.

The injured were immediately taken to a hospital, where one of them identified as Bilal Ahmed succumbed.

The militant's body  was recovered along with  arms and ammunition. "The militant, identified as M Gujjar, was a member of LeT and was active in Baramulla from the last couple of years," they added.(UNI)