SRINAGAR : A top Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant and three soldiers were killed, while six jawans and a civilian were injured in a fierce encounter in north Kashmir district of Bandipora, this morning.
However, defence ministry spokesman was not available for details of the encounter. On a tip-off, the Army, Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a joint search operation at Parray Mohalla Hajan in Bandipora district at 0300 hrs.
However, when the security forces were sealing the area in the village, militants hiding there opened fire with automatic weapons and hurled hand grenades.
The fire was returned ensuing an encounter, they said. They said in the initial militant firing, nine soldiers were injured. The injured were airlifted to Army base hospital where three of them are reported to have succumbed. One of the soldiers, who attained martyrdom, has been identified as Ravi Kumar. The injured security personnel, included a senior officer of CRPF Chetan Thapa. Militants again opened indiscriminate firing when security forces tried to enter the area with the first light. In the return fire, a militant was killed. The slain militant was identified as Abu Haris, a top commander of LeT. The encounter took place after four militants, a civilian and two soldiers were killed and three jawans injured in south Kashmir district of Kulgam on February 12. One civilian was also killed and over a dozen others injured when security forces opened fire and burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators in Kulgam and Anantnag after the encounter. The Army had paid tributes to Lance Naik Bhandoriya Gopal Sinh Munimsinh and Sepoy Raghubeer Singhat Badami Bagh Cantonment yesterday before their mortal remains were sent to their native places for last rites. (AGENCIES)
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