J&K: Security forces recover huge arms and ammunition in Bandipora encounter

The security forces recovered huge arms and ammunition including Under-Barrel Grenade Launchers, AK-47s and 10 hand grenades after the encounter in which six Pakistani militants of the LeT, including the nephew of Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, were gunned down in north Kashmir's Bandipora district on Saturday.

An IAF Garud commando was also killed in the encounter.

Apart from Lakhvi's nephew, two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commanders were also among the militants killed by the security forces, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police (DGP), S P Vaid, said.

Arms and ammunition including Under-Barrel Grenade Launchers, AK-47s. 10 hand grenades were recovered after Hajin encounter yesterday. Six terrorists including Zakir ur Rehman Lakvi's nephew were killed #JammuandKashmir

— ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2017

Security forces launched a search operation in Chandergeer village in Hajin area of the district after receiving specific intelligence input about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

The search operation resulted in an encounter when the militants hiding there fired on the search party of the security forces, who retaliated.

"Six LeT terrorists have been eliminated in Bandipora encounter," Vaid said.

He said all the six militants killed in the encounter were Pakistanis.

One of the terrorists named Owaid is the son of Zakir Rehman Maki and the nephew of Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, he said on Twitter.

Two LeT commanders -- Zargam and Mehmood -- were also eliminated in the operation today, the DGP said, adding that the operation was a "success". Six weapons were also recovered from the encounter site.

Srinagar-based Defence Spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said an IAF Garud commando was also killed in the operation. "An IAF Garud commando was killed, while an army soldier was injured," he said. (With PTI Inputs)