One Pakistani among 3 militants killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, March 10 (UNI) Security forces shot dead three militants, including a Pakistani national, in two separate encounters in Kashmir on Thursday, officials said.
While two local militants were killed in a gunfight in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, a Pakistani militant was killed in a brief shooting outside a famous shrine in Srinagar.
On Thursday morning, an encounter broke out at Naina Batpora village in Pulwama after the joint forces of Police, Army and Central Reserve Police Force launched a cordon-and-search operation against the militants.
“As the security forces came closer, the hiding militants opened fire, triggering an encounter. In the gunfight two terrorists were killed,” they said.
Police said both the slain were locals affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said security forces took every precaution to ensure no damage to a mosque.
“Initillay, the two terrorists hid themselves in the mosque. Later, they were holed up in a structure separate from the mosque. We took taken every precaution to ensure that no damage happens to the mosque,” Kumar said.
A Pakistani militant of “The Resistance Front” was killed in a brief gunfight on the outskirts of Srinagar at Dhobi Mohalla Hazratbal.
Police identified the slain Pakistani militant as Haidar who was active for the last six months in Srinagar.
“Three militants including the Pakistani were aiming to attack the police guard at the Hazratbal shrine and snatch rifle. The fire was retaliated in which  he was killed,” Kumar said, adding that there was no collateral damage in the shooting.
Police said searches are on for two other militants who fled from the spot.
Meanwhile, a bank guard was wounded in a suspected militant attack in Maran Chowk in Pulwama.  They said the bank guard has been shifted to hospital.