Tributes paid to martyrs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 2: The gun battle in Kupwara in which four security force personnel were martyred continued today and para-commandos have been called in to assist security forces in the operations.
The encounter at Babagund Langate area of Handwara in frontier Kupwara district that broke early on Saturday with troops searching for the militants, who are hiding in the village.
Two CRPF personnel and 2 Police men were martyred in the operation yesterday and their bodies were recovered today. Eleven security force personnel-four from paramilitary and others from Army- were injured in the gun battle. One civilian was also killed in the clashes yesterday.
Para commandos from 3 and 9 battalion of army joined operation that was being conducted by army’s 22 Rashtriya Rifles, 92 battalion CRPF and police’s Special Operation Group.
There was fresh fire between the militant and the security forces and it continued intermittently for the day.
Inspector General of Police S P Pani said that the operation is going on and four security force personnel were martyred so far. He said that they had information about presence of two militants and operation against them is going on. He said that they don’t want any civilians causalities and that is the reason for prolonging of the operation.
Security forces razed one more house to rubble today by blowing it up with an Improvised Explosive Device. Three houses damaged so far belonged to Manzoor Ahmad Shah son of Ghulam Hassan, Fayaz Ahmad Peer son of Wali Mohammad and Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Ahmad Bhat. Two cowsheds and a tin shed were also damaged in the gun battle.
The encounter broke out during the night between February 28 and March 1 after troops conducted operation in the village on the basis of inputs about presence of two militants hiding in the area.
Meanwhile, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at District Police Lines, Handwara and officers led by IGP Kashmir SP Pani laid floral wreaths on the bodies of Naseer Ahmad Kholi resident of Gund Gujran Karnah and Ghulam Mustafa Barah resident of Zachaldara Handwara.
Among others who attended the ceremony include DIG NKR Mohammad Suleman Choudhary, SP Handwara, Ashish Kumar Mishra, Commander 7th Sector, CO CRPF and other officers and personnel of the district.
According to a police spokesman Naseer is survived by parents, wife, 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.
Ghulam Mustafa’s family is survived by aged mother, wife, two daughters and as many sons, the spokesman added.
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