3 LeT men, civilian shot dead in Handwara

Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, two bank guards and a woman were killed in two separate shootouts in the Kashmir Valley on Monday. “Three Pakistani militants were neutralised by the joint team of forces in Unsoo, Handwara,” Director-General of Police S.P. Vaid said.

One woman, identified as Misra Bano, was also found dead near the site.

A police spokesman said the police, the Army’s 22 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF’s 92 Battalion launched a cordon and search operation in Mir Mohalla, Unisoo, on Sunday night.

“Militants hiding in Abdul Hamid Mir’s house fired upon the joint search party. Three AK rifles and ammunition were recovered from the three slain LeT militants,” said the spokesman. The identity of these terrorists is being ascertained, he added.

“Misra Bano was killed in the cross-fire after she tried to escape from the house where the militants were trapped,” said Deputy Inspector General, north Kashmir, V.K. Birdi.

The civilian killing sparked violent protests in Handwara. Hundreds of mourners raised anti-India slogans during the woman’s funeral. They demanded a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Internet services have been stopped in parts of Sopore and Kupwara as a precautionary measure. “The woman was a soft target for the forces,” alleged the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC). Separatist JKLF also condemned the killing.

Independent MLA Engineer Rashid called the civilian killing “unacceptable.” “It has yet again proved that security forces are accountable to none and treat themselves as above the law,” Mr. Rashid said.