M S Nazki
Poonch, Oct 24 (GNS): Body of a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant, who according to officials sustained injuries, alongside two policemen and a soldier, and couldn’t be immediately retrieved, has been recovered from Bhata-Dhurian encounter site in Nar Khas area of Mendhar in Poonch. The militant was taken to the encounter site and couldn’t be retrieved back after a joint team of police and army came under heavy fire by the militants, officials said.
They said that Zia Mustafa, a Pakistani LeT militant was taken to Bhata Durian for identification of a hideout during the ongoing operation in which three army men and a JCO were killed.
“During the search when team approached hideout, militants again opened fire on a joint team of police and army personnel in which two policemen and an army jawan sustained injuries. Mustafa also sustained injuries and he could not be immediately extracted from the site due to heavy fire”, they told GNS adding “during the subsequent operation additional reinforcements were sent and the body of Zia Mustafa has been retrieved from the encounter site.”
They further said that operation is in progress along the area.
Pertinent to mention here that nine soldiers including two army officers (JCOs) died in action since the encounter started almost two weeks ago. (GNS)
