SRINAGAR: Security forces gunned down two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in an encounter in the Lal Chowk area of Anantnag town in South Kashmir on Wednesday. This is the first time in almost two decades that Anantnag town has witnessed some terrorist activity, according to official sources.

The slain terrorists have been identified as Abid Hussain Bhat of Doda in Jammu and Bilal Ahmad Dar of Khudwani in Kulgam. Dar was involved in a series of terror acts in the past.

After the burial of Dar at Khudwani in Kulgam district of South Kashmir, a section of the protesters clashed with security forces during which five youths were injured.

The police had to impose ‘undeclared curfew’ in Anantnag town and adjoining areas to avert any further clash with civilians.

Inspector general of police (IGP), Kashmir, SP Pani said the encounter that began in the morning ended by the afternoon with the killings of the two terrorists, who were believed to be from the Lashkar.

The encounter had started after a joint team of Army, SOG and CRPF laid siege to Mehmaan Mohalla in the Lal Chowk area following inputs about the presence of some terrorists in a house there.

“As the security forces advanced towards the suspect house, the terrorists hiding inside fired on them. The forces retaliated, resulting in an encounter in which the two terrorists were eliminated. No collateral damage occurred during the encounter,” a police spokesman said.

Apart from incriminating materials, some arms and ammunition were seized from the encounter site.

