Srinagar, Jun 20 : Army officials announced on Thursday that the two militants killed in a clash with security forces in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir were of Pakistani origin and affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Brigadier Deepak Dev, Commander of the 5th Sector Rashtriya Rifles, informed reporters in Rafiabad that “The slain terrorists have been identified as Usman and Umar, both Pakistani nationals associated with LeT.”
The clash occurred on Wednesday in Baramulla district of North Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of two militants and injuries to two security personnel. According to the officials, the encounter began as a cordon-and-search operation in the Watergam area of Baramulla after receiving intelligence regarding the presence of militants, who subsequently opened fire on the security forces.
Brigadier Dev stated that Usman had been active in the Kashmir Valley since 2020. A significant cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered during the operation, he added.
He further mentioned that there had been ongoing intelligence reports in recent weeks about the movement of a militant group in the Sopore-Rafiabad area of Baramulla district. Specific intelligence received through the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) indicated the presence of two militants in a house in Hadipura village of Rafiabad area on Wednesday. Subsequently, a joint operation involving the Indian Army, JKP, and CRPF was launched, culminating in the successful neutralization of the militants after they fired upon the security forces during the search operation.
Brigadier Dev emphasized that the successful operation was facilitated by the evacuation of civilians from nearby houses and strict adherence to operational protocols. He praised the cooperation of Kashmiri civilians and reaffirmed the security forces’ commitment to sustaining peace and stability in Kashmir through continued efforts.
Baramulla Encounter: Slain Terrorists Identified as LeT Affiliates
