Srinagar: Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on April 18 gunned down three
Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militants in an encounter in Anantnag district's Yaripora
village, about 15 km from where Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is to attend a
public function in Qazigund on April 19, official sources said.
The encounter took place on April 18 afternoon when the troops of 52nd Battalion of
the Force laid a cordon around suspected militant hideouts to flush out hiding
militants, the sources said.
The three militants, believed to be foreigners, present there opened heavy fire and
in the ensuing gunfight lasting over an hour, were shot dead by the BSF
men.
Three AK assault rifles and some ammunition were recovered from the slain ultras,
the sources said.
The killings came at a time when the troops had intensified anti-militant operations
in Anantnag following interception of a cross-border message by LeT militants
calling for a "high profile action" during the Prime Minister's visit to Qazigund
where he would be laying foundation of a railway bridge and a railway reservation
centre on April 19 before winding up his two-day tour of Kashmir valley.
The operation was still in progress and further details are awaited, the sources
added.
PTI
