Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 7: An Army officer, a police man and a militant were killed in two anti-militancy operations in Kashmir valley today while security forces have trapped a group of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants in a Kupwara village of North Kashmir.
Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Lt Colonel N N Joshi, told Excelsior that an Army Major, Rahul Singh, died in an anti-militancy operation in South Kashmir district of Anantnag today.
The spokesman said that on specific intelligence, a cordon and search operation was launched by a Rashtriya Rifle unit in general area Panchalthan, Chaugaum in South Kashmir. “During the operation, the Army officer received fatal head injury as he fell from 10-15 metres into a gorge. The fall was caused by extreme slippery terrain conditions compounded by inclement weather”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that Major Rahul Singh braving the extreme inclement weather led his troops as part of the operation. “On reaching Panchalthan, at around 11a.m. today, the officer lost his balance and fell down a ridge resulting in head injury to him and he died later”, he said. He said that the officer had 9 years of service and is survived by his wife and a two years old daughter.
In another operation in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, one police man and one militant were killed and 7 security men including a police officer were injured as security forces trapped a group of LeT militants in a village this evening.
Superintendent of Police Handwara, Maqsudul Zaman, told Excelsior that Handwara Police, Kupwara Police and Army launched a joint operation in Zunreshi area of Chowkibal in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district this evening.
The SP said that operation was launched this evening when Handwara police received information about presence of a group of 4-5 LeT militants in the village. He said that village was cordoned off and militants opened fire on security forces leading to a fierce gun battle.
“One militant, one police man died in the encounter while 4 Army personnel and 3 police men including an Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI) were injured”, the SP said.
The police officer said that fierce gun battle is going on and the cordon around the village has been strengthened to prevent militants from fleeing the village under the cover of darkness.
Sources said that security forces have launched a search operation this evening in a Baramulla village. “Army’s 52 RR and SOG Baramulla cordoned off Sherpora, Sultanpora Kandi in Baramulla district. The operation was led by DSP Operations Baramulla, Sachin Gupta”, sources added.
“One AK-47, 2 magazines and 50 rounds and pouch was recovered from cow shed of Bashir Ahmad Beg of Sherpora Kandi, Baramulla”, sources said.
The Defence spokesman said that an Army patrol while crossing a Nallah in general area Trehgam in district Kupwara recovered arms and ammunition today.
The spokesman said that the troops of a Territorial Army Unit were carrying out patrolling as part of area domination in the area of Trehgam and at 7: 30 a.m. today, while the patrol was crossing Kahmil Nallah in area of Poshpora, the troops observed a suspicious looking sack. “On search of the sack, troops recovered 6 Pistols, 8 UBGL and one hand grenade from it”, he said.
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