Anantnag, May 11: Three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Sheikhpora Vailoo area of Kokernag belt in South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Tuesday, Police said.

The slain militants were identified as Ilyas Ahmad Dar alias Sameer resident of Danwathpora Kokernag, Ubaid Shafi alias Abdullah resident of Batamaloo Srinagar and Aqib Ahmad Lone alias Sahil resident of Khandaypora Kulgam. 

A police spokesman said that the holed up militants turned down repeated surrender offers and were killed within hours. 

“During the search operation, the presence of militants got ascertained. They were given an opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” said the police spokesman.

He added many the civilians were trapped in the gunfire and after rescuing them to safer places, the operation was resumed and all the militants were eliminated in the ensuing encounter. 

Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army’s 19 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.

Police claimed that all the slain militants were linked with LeT outfit and part of the groups involved in several attacks on security forces and security establishments. 

Police also claimed that arms and ammunition including 01 AK-47 rifle, 02 pistols and incriminating materials have also been recovered from the site of encounter.

“All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes,” the statement added.

Pertinently, 46 militants have been killed in JK so far this year and most of them belong to Shopian district.

Meanwhile, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulates police and security forces for conducting a successful operation “without any collateral damage”.