Two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit were killed in a gunfight at Galoora area of Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Monday.Reports reaching GNS said that that army’s 30 RR, 92 bn CRPF and SOG cordoned Galoora area of Langate during pre dawn hours.Soon after the joint team of forces fired several gunshots amid the cordon leading to an encounter, they said.A police spokesman said that the gunfight started after a cordon-and-search operation was launched in the village late last night following specific information about the presence of some militants.He said that two militants of LeT were killed in the operation. "The bodies of the deceased were recovered along with arms and ammunition". Sources identified the slain militants Furqan Rashid Lone @ Adil of Shartpora, Langate and Liyaqat Ahmad Lone @ Sahaba @ Umar Khalid of Harwan, Sopore."Furqan was wanted in a number of criminal cases registered at Police Station Handwara. Liyaqat had a long history of involvement in militant-related activities and was also wanted in a number of criminal cases including case FIR 81/2017 under section 363, 376 RPC at Police Station Bomai regarding kidnapping and rape of a minor local girl," the police spokesman claimed.
Liyaqat along with other LeT associates Gani Khawaja resident of Kralgund and Majid Mir resident of Nowpora Sopore is involved in case FIR No.70/2018 under section 307 RPC, 7/27 Arms Act of Police Station Bomai regarding the murder of Hakim-ur-Rehman Sultani resident of Bomai on 08-09-2018, the spokesman said.Following the killing, clashes erupted between protesters and government forces at Galoora and Langate areas.Reports said that youth took to streets and clashed with the forces after the news about the death of the two militants spread in the area.Later in the day, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of the slain militants at their respective villages in Harwan, Sopore and Shartpora, Langate.Amid protests and pro-freedom slogans, the duo was laid to rest in respective graveyards at their native villages.Meanwhile, in wake of the gunfight, authorities have suspended the mobile Internet service in parts of Handwara.The class work in GDC Handwara and all Higher Secondary Schools of Handwara, Mawar and Langate zones remained suspended today following the orders of the district administration as a precautionary measure. (GNS)