Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 19: Three militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were killed and 5 security force personnel including a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer were injured in an encounter in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today. Click here to watch video
A joint team of Army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and 180 battalion of CRPF launched a cordon and search operation at Hayuna village of Nazneenpora, Tral following specific information about the presence of militants in a house.
As the security forces fired some warning shots, the militants hiding inside the village opened fire leading to an encounter. In the initial exchange of fire, a soldier and a CRPF officer suffered serious bullet wounds and were hospitalized.
The encounter lasted till evening and three militants of JeM including two locals and a foreigner were killed. Three Army soldiers were also injured.
One of the local militants has been identified as Adil from Midora Tral area of Pulwama and he was active for last two days. The other has been identified as Danish of Pinglish Tral in district Pulwama. He was active for last 23 days.
This is the first encounter in Kashmir after Centre called off of suspension of operations against militants during the month of Ramadhan.
In the meantime, a civilian was injured with gunshot wounds in Srigufwara area of Bijbehara in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district today.
The injured identified as Javed Ahmad Waza, a vegetable vendor by profession sustained bullet injury in his back. He was shifted to the district hospital where from he was referred to SKIMS, Soura in a critical condition.
Locals said Army’s 3 RR fired at Waza near the bus stand. They said that Army mistook the sound of a tyre burst or a firecracker as gunshot and opened fire. One of the bullets hit Waza following which he fell down on the ground.
Police, however, said that the vegetable vendor was shot at by the gunmen. A case has been registered and further investigation has been initiated.
And Police today recovered arms and ammunition from two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who were arrested from Rafiabad area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Police said that the duo was arrested during joint Naka by police, Army and SOG. The duo- Arif Ahmad Malla son of Ghulam Mohidin Malla of Shitloo, Rafiabad and Rayees Ahmad Naik son of Ali Mohammad Naik of Dichpura, Narasach, area of DH Pora Kulgam had gone missing from May 23 along with the SPO guarding the BJP leader in Rafiabad.
Arif and Rayees were arrested by a joint team of SOG, Army’s 32 RR and 92 battalion of CRPF.
The duo was working as OGWs of militants. A case has already been registered in this regard and further investigations taken up.
SPO Waseem Ahmad Malla, posted at the residence of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Mohammad Maqbool War at Rohama Rafiabad, went missing along with Arif and Rayees with service rifle of the Personal Security Officer of the leader on May 23. Besides, the service rifle, Waseem also took away some ammunition.
A police spokesman said a joint naka was laid by Police Component Rafiabad, 32-RR and 92 battalion of CRPF near Dachanpora Crossing at Rohama. “During checking, one motorcycle bearing registration No. JK09-2055 was coming from Dachanpora towards Rohama having two pillion riders on it. They tried to escape from the spot, but the alert naka party tactfully chased and overpowered the duo”, the spokesman said.
“During preliminary questioning, they revealed their identity as Arif Ahmad Malla and Rayees Ahmad Naik of Kulgam. One pistol, three pistol ammunition and one Matrix Sheet were recovered from Arif Ahmad Malla. While as one hand grenade and one Matrix Sheet was recovered from Rayees Ahmad Naik.
Police have registered a case (FIR No. 48/2018 U/S 2/25 I. A. Act, 13 ULA Act) at Police Station Panzalla. “During the course of the investigation, it surfaced that the duo was active OGW’s of LeT outfit and the OGW Arif Ahmad Malla was also involved in desertion/ decamping of weapon case of SPO turned militant. Investigation of the case is going on and more arrests are expected”, Police said.
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