Image Source: TRIBUNE

A six-day-old militant was killed in a brief shooting in north Kashmir’s Sopore sub-district, officials said.

Mudassir Bhat of Shutloo, Rafiabad, who had gone missing recently and had joined the Lashakar-e-Toiba militant ranks on March 7, was killed in an encounter with forces in his village, nearly 70 km from Srinagar.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, north Kashmir, Suleman Choudhary, said they had an input about the presence of militants in the Shutloo area after which a joint operation was launched.

“As the forces were laying a cordon around the area, the hiding militants were asked to surrender as per the standard operation procedure. However, they opened fire, triggering a gunfight. As the operation concluded, the body of one militant was recovered,” Choudhary said.

The forces also recovered arms and ammunition from the gunfight site. Besides, the security forces recovered steel core bullets from the encounter area.