J-K: Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma's killer among two LeT militants shot dead in Shopian encounter

Two LeT militants were killed in an encounter in Shopian district during the small hours on Tuesday. Kashmir Police said search operations are underway and further details will be made available in some time.

Srinagar: Two militants affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit were killed in an encounter between militants and security forces in Alshipora area of Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir in the early hours of Tuesday, police said. Police said that one of the slain militants was involved in the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit in February this year.

In a quote post in X, Kashmir Zone Police while quoting ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, said, “Shopian Encounter Update: Killed terrorists have been identified as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq alias Abrar of terror outfit LeT. Terrorist Abrar was involved in killing of Kashmiri Pandit late Sanjay Sharma”. It can be recalled that Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma, who was working as an armed security guard in his village in Shopian district of south Kashmir was shot dead at Achan village on Feb 26 this year.

Soon after the attack, Kashmir Zone Police had written in a post on X, “Terrorists fired upon one civilian from minority namely Sanjay Sharma S/O Kashinath Sharma R/O Achan Pulwama while on way to local market. He was shifted to hospital however, he succumbed to injuries. There was Armed guard in his village. Area cordoned off. Details shall follow”.

As for today's Shopian encounter, police said they were searching the neighbourhood for more militants, if any, were holed up. The encounter is believed to have broken out soon after security forces cordoned the area following specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area. "Encounter has started at Alshipora area of Shopian.

Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow," the department posted on X earlier.