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Majid Jahangir & Suhail A Shah
Tribune News Service
Srinagar/Anantnag, Oct 19
Security forces killed five militants in two operations in north Kashmir even as nine Army men, including a Major, were injured in an IED blast in south Kashmir.
Three unidentified militants were killed in a counter-infiltration operation along the Line of Control in Baramulla district. The operation began on Thursday morning when the Army noticed suspected movement close to the LoC near Tourna in the Boniyar sector, around 100 km from Srinagar.
“Challenged, the terrorists opened fire and the ensuing gunfight continued till late last evening. Three bodies were recovered from the dense forest area this morning,” a defence official said. “Four AK rifles, some haversacks and warlike stores have also been recovered.”
The combing operation was still underway in the area, he added.
The identity and affiliation of the slain militants could not be established immediately.
In a separate incident, two Pakistani militants affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed were killed at Kralhar on the outskirts of Baramulla town.
Baramulla SSP Imtiyaz Husain said the militants, operating under code names Faizan and Wahab, were travelling in a Scorpio vehicle towards Baramulla when they were signalled to stop at a check-point. “Both terrorists were killed in a brief gunfight while a policeman suffered minor injuries,” Husain said. “The Scorpio driver has been arrested and the vehicle impounded.”
During searches, an AK rifle, an AK magazine, a UBGL, two Chinese pistols and some ammunition were seized.
Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said when the security men asked for the card from one person, he took out a pistol and fired at police and CRPF men.
“He was killed in retaliatory action while the second one fled while firing. He was chased and killed later,” Dilbag said.
A news portal quoted Jaish-e-Mohammad spokesman as having said that the two militants killed in Baramulla shootout were on a “special mission”. He, however, did not reveal the mission details.
In another incident, nine Army men, including a Major, were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The massive blast occurred around 9.15 pm on Thursday at Trichal village on the outskirts of Pulwama town.
“A Casper vehicle of the 55 Rashtriya Rifles hit a landmine. The blast was followed by intense firing by militants,” a senior police officer said. A Major and eight soldiers sustained injuries in the blast. Militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Villagers alleged Army personnel went berserk after the blast and thrashed locals, injuring 15 civilians, seven of them women. They alleged their houses were also vandalised.
The DGP said the police were yet to receive any formal complaint in that regard. “If there is any such complaint, we will look into it,” he said.
Defence spokesperson Rajesh Kalia said the facts were being ascertained regarding the incident.
Pregnant woman killed in militant attack
A pregnant woman was killed in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district after militants targeted an Army camp on Friday evening, officials said. Superintendent of Police Chandan Kohli said the militants fired two UBGL grenades and also opened fire at the camp at Shadimarg, Pulwama. “Firdousa, daughter of Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh of Qasbayar, Shadimarg, received a bullet injury in the exchange of fire. She was taken to Rajpora hospital, from there she was referred to District Hospital, Pulwama, where she succumbed,” he said. The doctors said the slain woman was five months pregnant. TNS
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