Two local militants affiliated with Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, who had escaped from a cordon two days back, were killed in an encounter with security forces in central Kashmir Budgam district on Tuesday.
“On specific input, the joint area domination party of Army & Police tried to stop one suspected vehicle, terrorists fired upon and in retaliation, two terrorists were killed near Court Complex in District Budgam. Arms/ammunition recovered,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.
The police said the slain militants were locals and affiliated with the LeT. “Both the killed terrorists are identified as Arbaaz Mir and Shahid Sheikh of Pulwama linked with the proscribed terror outfit LeT. Both the terrorists earlier escaped from the recent encounter,” it added.
A police official said that a mobile vehicle checkpoint had been set up after information about the movement of terrorists in the area in Budgam. “A cab was signalled to stop for the check but the terrorists inside opened fire on the security forces, which was retaliated,” he said.
An unknown number of militants had reportedly managed to escape after a brief gunfight with security forces at Redbugh, Budgam on Sunday. “Arbaaz and Shahid were part of the group which had managed to escape in Redbugh on Sunday,” the official added.