Srinagar: A Lashkar-e-Toiba militant was found dead in an apple orchard on Monday morning in south Kashmir’s Shopian district where a militant and four civilians were killed by the Army on Sunday evening. 

The militant body was recovered from an apple orchard at Saidipora village in Shopian, which is about 8 to 10 kilometers from Pahnoo area where the Sunday killings took place.

The slain militant was identified as Ashiq Hussain Bhat son of Mohammad Ishaq Bhat of Rakhpora Shopian, a media report said.

He had joined militant ranks last year and was affiliated with the LeT, the report said.

A police officer said they are investigations whether the killing has any connection with Pahnoo incident, a local news agency reported.

“It seems that he was injured in the same incident at Pahnoo but nothing can be said hitherto with surety as investigations are ongoing,” the police officer was quoted as saying.

An Army spokesman said on Sunday that three civilians were accompanying a Lashkar militant Amir Malik and all were killed in a brief shootout at Pahnoo, Shopian. On Monday morning, another dead body of a civilian was recovered from the spot. The locals, however, rejected the Army claim and said that the youth had no connection with the militant.

They identified the four civilians as Suhail Ahmad Wagay (22) son Khalid Ahmad Wagay of Pinjora, Shahid Khan (21) son of Bashir Khan of Malik Gund and Shahnawaz Wagay (23) son of  Ali Mohammad of Moolu, Trenz and Gowhar Ahmad Lone (24) of Trenz.