Two LeT militants killed in Kulgam gunfight (Lead)

Srinagar June 16 (IANS) Two militants including a commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed on Friday in a gunfight with the security forces in south Kashmir s Kulgam district.

Security forces surrounded two houses in Arwani village of Kulgam district. When the forces closed in on the hiding militants they opened fire triggering an encounter police said.

Two militants including a commander of the LeT outfit identified as Junaid Mattoo have been killed police sources said.

Reports from the area said the security forces used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to blast the two houses where the militants had been hiding.

A civilian identified as Muhammad Ashraf Khar 22 was killed in clashes between the security forces and a stone pelting mob which gathered near the encounter site. Twelve protesting civilians were injured in these clashes.

--IANS
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