Anantnag encounter ends after 7 days, LeT Commander Uzair Khan among 2 militants killed

Srinagar: Two militants including the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) Commander Uzair Khan have been killed in the Anantnag gun battle that raged on Tuesday afternoon in a forest area, Police said.

With the death of two militants, the death toll in the seven day operation has risen to six. Two Army officers, a J&K police officer and jawan were killed in the operation.

“LeT commander Uzair Khans who was holed up in Gadole Kokernag woods has been killed and his body has been retrieved”, Additional Director General of Police Vijay Kumar told media persons at Kokernag on Tuesday.

He said one more militant’s body is visible to be retrieved as the searches in the area are going on.

He said the searches are not yet completed and added that LeT commander Uzair’s body has been recovered and it has been retrieved.

He said a search operation in the woods of Gadole in Kokernag will continue.

“We have yet to search a waste area. There is a possibility of blind cells and grenades will be recovered and destroyed accordingly”, Kumar said.

“We appeal to the people not to venture into the area unless it is cleared of every blind cells and grenades”, he said.

The ADGP said that there was information of the presence of two to three militants in the area.

Body of Sepoy Pradeep who had gone missing during an initial gunfight on Wednesday with militants at Gadole Kokarnag Anantnag was found on Monday taking the death toll of forces in the fierce gunfight to four.

Two decorated Army officers, Colonel Manpreet Singh, Commanding Officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles, his company commander, Major Aashish Dhonchak, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Himayun Muzamil Bhat, were killed and two other soldiers were injured in a gun battle. (UNI)