Major, 4 soldiers attain martyrdom, Brigadier, DIG injured in gunfight
NL Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 18
Three Jaish terrorists, including a Pakistani commander of the group linked to the February 14 CRPF bombing, and an Army major and four soldiers killed in a 16-hour encounter in Pulwama district on Monday, officials said.
The gun battle took place in Pulwama's Pinglan area, about 12 km from the spot where a suicide bomber from the Jaish-e-Mohammed drove his explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus last week, killing 40 jawans and critically wounding five.
At least nine security personnel, including a brigade commander and a Lieutenant Colonel and a Deputy Inspector General of the Jammu and Kashmir police, were injured in the gun battle in Pulwama's Pinglan area, about 12 km from where a suicide bomber belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed drove his explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus last week, killing 40 jawans.
The Pinglan encounter claimed the lives four Army personnel, a policeman, three Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists and a civilian, the officials said. Two of the slain terrorists were identified as Kamran, a Pakistani national and top commander of the Jaish, and Hilal Ahmad, a local recruited by the terror group, they said, adding the identity of the third is being ascertained.
DIG (South Kashmir) Amit Kumar was injured during the ongoing anti-militancy operation. A Brigadier and a police constable were also injured in the gunfight. The policeman later succumbed to his injuries.
The slain militants were identified as Rashid Ghazi alias Kamran, a Pakistani national and top commander of the Jaish, and Hilal Ahmad, a local recruited by the terror group, they said. The identity of the third militant was not known yet.
“Kamran's role in the February 14 suicide bombing of a CRPF convoy was under the scanner of investigators,” a senior police official said.
The slain soldiers were identified as Major VS Dhondial, Havaldar Sheo Ram and Sepoy Hari Singh and Sepoy Ajay Kumar. A head constable of the police was also killed. The injured included DIG (South Kashmir) Amit Kumar, who received a gunshot wound in the abdomen, and a Brigade Commander, who was hurt in the leg. All the injured are stable, the officials said.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area during the night after receiving inputs about the presence of militants there. Militants fired at forces as the searches got under way, triggering a gun battle, the officials said.
The Jaish has claimed responsibility for the February 14 terror attack that targeted a convoy of 78 vehicles on its way from Jammu to Srinagar. About 2,500 CRPF personnel were on their way to the Valley, many returning to work after leave.
