Two LeT militants, one civilian 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 an official said. One civilian was also killed in the operation.

A joint team of security forces surrounded two houses in Arwani village of Kulgam district. When the forces closed in on the hiding militants they were fired upon by the militants triggering an exchange.

The terrorists opened fire at the security forces after being asked to surrender. In the gunfight two of the terrorists have been killed. One of them is reportedly identified as Lahskar commander Junaid Mattoo CRPF Deputy Inspector General M. Dinakaran told IANS.

The official said that people residing in the area started pelting stones at the security forces to help the terrorists escape from the spot as soon as the operation began.

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

Police sources said that Muhammad Ashraf 22 a civilian was hit by a bullet near the gunfight site and was pronounced dead at a district hospital.

--IANS
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