Srinagar: The two militants killed in a fierce gunbattle with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday have been identified as Pakistani nationals affiliated with Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, a police spokesman claimed on Thursday.
The deceased have been identified as Divisional Commander of North Kashmir Abu Mussa, alias Abu Zarar, and his close associate Abu Mavia, both Pakistani nationals affiliated with LeT, the spokesman said.
He said identity of the slain militants was established from the documents recovered from their possession.
The two militants were killed in a three-day long operation at Maidanpora forest in Lolab area of Kupwara district. The encounter started on Sunday when a joint search team of police and Army launched a search operation to track down hiding ultras.
Two Army personnel were killed and three others injured in the encounter.
Two AK 47 assault rifles, five magazines, 49 rounds, three grenades and four mobile phones were recovered from the possession of the slain militants, the spokesman said.
Terming Mussa's killing as a "major breakthrough", the spokesman said the militant was active in the area for the last couple of years and had evaded security dragnet several times.