The state Special Task Force (STF) gunned down two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in an encounter near Central Food Processing Research Centre on the Lucknow-Deva Road on Sunday morning. Besides two AK-47 rifles, four magazines filled with cartridges, 10 hand grenades, one detonator, and one belt meant for strapping explosives and a small battery, the STF also recovered a map written in Urdu from the terrorists. A source in the STF said the suspected terror module had infiltrated into India from the Nepal border. When asked if Chief Minister Mayawati was the target of the militants, Additional Director General of Police (STF) Brij Lal said: “The map shows the area housing the chief minister’s residence. The police barrier around the area can also be seen. But the target of the slain terrorists is still a matter of investigation.” State DGP Vikram Singh also visited the site of encounter in the morning.
Lal said STF SSP Amitabh Yash had received a tip-off about LeTÂ’s presence in Lucknow recently. Subsequently, a team was constituted to nab the militants. At 5.50 am, the STF intercepted the two terrorists travelling in a Maruti car (UP-32A/4374) on the Barabanki-Lucknow Road.
The car was coming from Barabanki. “The STF team tried to stop the vehicle, the terrorists did not stop. As STF officers gave chase, the terrorists opened fire and the STF retaliated. After some time, the two terrorists emerged, firing and raising the slogan ‘Lashkar-e-Taiba zindabad’. They died on the spot,” Lal added. He further said that both the militants were “fidayeen”.