Jammu and Kashmir: LeT militant involved in Shujaat Bukhari's assassination killed in Budgam encounter

One more militants and three security personnel have also been injured in the gunfight in Chitregam area of Budgam.

Image: Naveed Jatt (left), Shujaat Bukhari (right)

New Delhi: In the encounter that broke out between militants and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam early morning on Wednesday,  "Most wanted" Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Naveed Jhutt, who was allegedly involved in the assassination of journalist Shujaat Bukhari, was killed, officials said. Bukhari, a veteran journalist and editor of Rising Kashmir, was shot dead by terrorists outside his office in the heart of Srinagar in June this year. Reports of two militants being  killed and three security personnel being injured in the encounter in the Chitregam area of Budgam, has been received so far.  The gunfight is still underway. In a tweet news agency ANI informed about the ongoing encounter. "Exchange of fire underway between terrorists and security forces in Budgam's Chattergam" it said. Kashmir zone police also shared a preliminary information about the encounter. “Exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists at Kuthpora in Budgam. Information is preliminary in nature,” it said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Kuthpora area of Budgam in the morning, following information about presence of militants there, a police official said. The militants opened fire towards the security forces who were carrying out searches, he said. The firing was retaliated by the forces, leading to a gun battle, the official said, adding there was no report of any injury or casualty. The authorities have snapped internet services in Budgam as a precautionary measure. With this, the number of terrorists killed this year has reached 232. Over the past six days only the number of militants killed has reached 18. On Tuesday, security forces were successful in neutralising three terrorists in two separate encounters in Tral and Kulgam. It is to be noted that security forces had neutralised seven terrorists on November 25 who belonged to the terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed, lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. Six were killed in Shopian while one was eliminated in Pulwama. Earlier on November 23, six terrorists were killed in an encounter with security  in Anantnag district. LeT commander who was involved in killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari was among the six terrorists killed by security forces.

Exchange of fire between security forces & #terrorists at Kuthpora #Budgam. Information is preliminary in nature. @JmuKmrPolice

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) November 28, 2018