LeT commander Bashir Lashkari, who carried Rs 10 lakh bounty, killed in J&K encounter

Bashir Lashkari

Srinagar: In a significant development, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Bashir Lashkari and his aide were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday. The encounter also claimed lives of two civilians. Latest reports said at least 17 civilians were rescued. The Jammu and Kashmir police had announced a bounty of Rs 10 lakh for Bashir Lashkari for leading an attack earlier this month which led to killing of seven policemen. LeT commander Bashir Lakshari and three other militants were "trapped" inside a house in Dialgam area's Brenti- Batpora, a police official said. While Tahira, 44, died in the crossfire, Shadab Ahmad Chopan, 21, was allegedly killed in security forces' action against protesters near the encounter site. Chopan had firearm injuries in his face and was declared dead at SKIMS hospital here, an official said. Four other persons have been admitted to hospitals here with firearm injuries sustained near the site, he added. Chat Conversation End Type a message... "Bashir Lakshari and three terrorists are trapped in security forces' cordon in village Brenti in Anantnag. The trapped ultras were involved in the killing of an SHO and five other policemen in Achabal area of south Kashmir on June 16," a police spokesperson said. Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation early today after they received information about the presence of the militants. An official said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire. The militants used civilians as human shields and security forces managed to rescue 17 of them. He did not elaborate if there were any more hostages.