Two Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorists were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Beri-Rakh forest in the border district of Poonch as the operation to track down militants in the area entered the third day on Thursday.
Two bodies of terrorists and one AK-47 rifle have been retrieved from the encounter site during the search operation in Beri Rakh forests in Mendhar border belt of Poonch district since Thursday morning, said in a statement. The identity of the terrorists has not been established so far, it said.
The operation is continuing to track down the rest of the terrorissts in this dense forest area, the release said. The anti-terrorist operation was launched by Army's 37 Rashtriya Rifles troops on inputs about infiltration of a group of 10 to 12 militants in Mankote forest belt on July 13 around 0900 hours.
During the operation, an Army major was killed and six other securitymen, including a colonel, injured in an encounter with suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists on July 13.
Major Amit Phunge was killed in the encounter with the militants while Colonel Ajay Katoch of 47 Rashtriya Rifles was injured. Meanwhile, the police recovered some arms and ammunition from Bonjwah-Kither area of Kishtwar district where one district commander of the LeT, identified as Isaq Bhat alias Hamza /Ateeq was gunned down by police yesterday.
The recoveries included two AK magzines, 38 rounds of AK ammunition, three electronic detonators, 4 normal detonators, one Chinese grenade, three mobile sets, two sim cards and one pouch, the release said.
