5 LeT terrorists killed in Kulgam

Security forces killed five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Friday in one of the fiercest gunbattles this year in the Union territory, police officers said, adding that several of them were involved in attacks on Pandits and migrant labourers earlier this year.

- 

All five slain men-identified as Sameer Ahmad Sheikh, Danish Hameed Thokar, Ubaid Padder and Hanzla Shah from Shopian, and Yasir Bhat from Kulgam-are local residents, the officers cited above said.

Deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, south Kashmir, Rayees Mohammad Bhat, said the terrorists were involved in a number of attacks on migrants and Pandits, including one in Shopian last year on chemist Sonu Bhat.

"Besides, there was an attack on a minority picket at Heepora Batgund in Shopian. Also, there was an attack on the cordon party of security forces at Watoo Keegam. The attack on migrant labourers this year at Gagran Shopian and also an attack at Chotigam," he said.

"The neutralisation has dealt a serious blow to the terror infrastructure operating here and we believe more such successes are on the way," he added.

According to police, more than 40 terrorists were so far kill in the Valley this year.