Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed as more than 27-hour-long encounter at Karan Nagar in heart of the city concluded on Tuesday afternoon. The gunfight started at around 10:00 am on Monday after more than five hours after sentry of 23 bn CRPF camp raised alarm after suspecting movement of the militants. Soon CRPF and police launched a joint cordon-and-search operation and as they reach near an under construction building, a CRPF officer said that militants fired upon them which was retaliated triggering off an encounter at 10.00 am on Monday.
Senior Superintendent of police (SSP) Srinagar Imtiaz Ismail Parray told that today morning the exchange of gunfight resumed with the two holed up militants. “In the fresh gunfight both the holed up militants were killed and both the bodies along with as many AK-47 assault rifle were recovered,” the officer said, adding the search operation in the area is still going. SSP said that parties are inside the building and are carrying room to room clearance. “Presently search operation amid room to room clearance is underway in the area”, SSP said. The officer said that the identity of the deceased is yet to be ascertained. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in a statement to news agency GNS, had claimed responsibility for the attack.
One CRPF trooper Mujahid Khan of Bihar was killed during the gunfight while a constable of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Police was injured in the initial shootout. In wake of the attack, authorities have snapped high-speed mobile Internet service in Srinagar city. Meanwhile, reports said that restrictions have been imposed in various areas of Old City of Srinagar to prevent youth from staging protests near the site of the gunfight.