J&K Encounter: Killing of six policemen an act of cowardice, says Jaitley; bodies of Lashkar militants recovered

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday condemned terrorist attack on a police party in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag in which as many as six police personnel were killed.

"Killing of six policemen by terrorists in #Achabal is a cowardice act. My condolences to the bereaved families. Salute to martyrs," Jaitley tweeted.

Killing of six policemen by terrorists in #Achabal is a cowardice act. My condolences to the bereaved families. Salute to martyrs.

— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) June 17, 2017

The incident took place in Anantnag's Thajiwara Achabal area.

The militants who ambushed a police party at Achabal in Anantnag district of South Kashmir disfigured the faces of the six cops slain in the attack before walking away with their weapons.

A sub-inspector, identified as Pulwama-resident Feroz, a driver and four other policemen, who were on a routine round in their jeep, died in the attack, Director General of Police S P Vaid.

Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashker-e-Taiba has claimed the responsibility for the ambush.

Meanwhile, bodies of dreaded Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Junaid Ahmad Mattoo and two others were recovered from the encounter site in Arwani village of South Kashmir.

Besides 24-year-old Mattoo alias 'Jana', the other two bodies were of 18-year-old Adil Mushtaq Mir alias 'Nana' and 20-year-old Nisar Ahmad Wani. All three belong to the banned terror outfit Lashkar.