Pampore encounter: Army neutralises two LeT terrorists in EDI building, recovers weapons

The Army said the encounter operation was prolonged as it wanted to minimise collateral damage.

Indian Army ends Pampore operation, eliminates two terrorists. In Picture: Indian Army soldiers take their positions near the site of a gunbattle on the outskirts of Srinagar 22 February 2016.Reuters

The Indian Army ended its counter-terror operation in Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) by killing two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who were holed up in the EDI building. The operation took three days and the Army said it was prolonged as the building was a huge six-storey structure and there was a possibility of civilians being trapped inside.

Maj Gen Ashok Narula, GOC Victor Force of Rashtriya Rifles, briefed the media after the Army operation ended. He said there were two terrorists killed and two weapons were recovered from them. They probably belonged to LeT, he said.

Explaining how it started, Maj Gen Narula said that the Army heard some firing in the EDI building on Monday, and soon after the soldiers cordoned the area and started their operation.

The operation was "very tricky" as the building was "very huge" and the Army wanted to minimise any "collateral damage". Moreover there was "chances of civilians being inside" and the Army evacuated them.

Maj Gen Narula said that it was a long-drawn operation as the building had 60 rooms with 60 bathrooms, which took time to clear each and every room. He said by Wednesday morning the Army was conducting the clearing operation.