Security Forces on November 11 killed two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants in an overnight encounter at Lawdara in the Papshan area of Bandipora District of Jammu and Kashmir, reports Daily Excelsior. They slain militants were identified as Abu Talha, a LeT ‘commander’ resident of Pakistan; and Qaiser Bilal of Bandipora. SFs on November 10 launched an operation in Lawdara after inputs about presence of a group of militants in the village. Militants who were hiding in an under construction house opened fire on the troops, leading to an encounter. The cordon around the village was strengthened during the night to prevent the militants from fleeing. Both the militants were killed during the encounter the morning of November 11. SATP had earlier reported that one militant was killed in the operation on November 10.
Meanwhile, Firstpost on November 11 reported that encounters between government forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir have declined in number post August 5, 2019, as the forces remain occupied in preventing public protests against the scrapping of Kashmir's special status. Police officials cited the involvement of the forces in "law and order" duties to prevent public protests as a reason for the decline in anti-militancy operations. They however also added that the lack of communication with informants — due to the snapping of mobile services — has also affected the flow of information about the presence of militants. Police officials said that while the gun battles have declined militants have become active in Srinagar city (Srinagar District) as well where their presence was far sparser earlier. The movement of militants in the city has also increased following Article 370 revocation, they added.