2 Pakistani nationals among 3 LeT militants killed in encounter in J-K's Baramulla

(Eds: Adding details of militants' identities)
    Srinagar, Jul 12 (PTI) Three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including two Pakistani nationals involved in a recent attack on security forces, were killed in an encounter in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, police said.
    Security forces launched a cordon and search operation around midnight in Reban area of Sopore town following information about the presence of militants there, the police said.
    After the presence of militants was ascertained, they were given an opportunity to surrender. However, they opened indiscriminate fire at the search party, which retaliated, they said.
    In the ensuing gunfight, three militants affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the encounter site, the police said.
    Two of the slain militants have been identified as Abu Rafia alias Usman and Saifullah -- both residents of Pakistan, they said.
    Rafia was active in the valley since 2016. He and Saifullah were involved in many terror incidents, including the July 1 attack in Sopore in which a CRPF jawan and a civilian were killed, they added.
    The identity of the third militant has not yet been ascertained, the police said.
    Arms and ammunition, including three AK-47 rifles, and other incriminating materials were recovered from the encounter site, they said.
    Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar congratulated the team of police and security forces for the "big success". PTI SSB DIV
DIV

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)