LeT militant involved in murder of Kashmiri army officer killed (Lead)

Srinagar Sep 2 (IANS) A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant involved in the abduction and murder of Kashmiri army officer Ummer Fayaz in May this year was killed by security forces on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir s Kulgam district officials said.

Police said the LeT militant was identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Padder a resident of Manchewa Yaripora of Kulgam district.

"On specific inputs a joint team of Police from Kulgam and 62 Rashtriya Rifles laid an ambush to trap the dreaded LeT militants. The terrorists tried to escape and fired indiscriminately " an Army official said.

"The fire was retaliated to during which one terrorist identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Padder who was associated with the LeT outfit was killed " the official said.

Army and Police officials confirmed Padder was involved in the murder of Army officer Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz in May this year.

The 22-year-old unarmed officer on leave to visit his home in Kulgam was kidnapped by militants while attending his cousin s wedding in Batapura village on May 9.

His bullet-riddled body was found the next day in Shopian district.

According to Army officials Padder was also involved in bank robberies at Kader branches of J&K Bank and Ellaquai Dehati Bank. He was also involved in a firing incident on a Police station in Yaripora.

One AK 47 rifle two AK 47 magazines 42 AK 47 rounds and one pouch was recovered from the slain terrorist.

--IANS
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