Samikhsya Bureau
Days after Kashmir’s worst terrorist attack killed 40 CRPF personnel in Pulwama district in its southern part, four army personnel, including a major, were killed in an encounter with militants during a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the district in the wee hours of Monday.
Officials said the slain personnel included Major V.S. Dhoundiyal, havaldar Sheo Ram, sepoy Ajay Kumar and sepoy Hari Singh. All belong to the 55 Rashtriya Rifles of the army.
Officials said the army and state police launched the CASO overnight at Pinglan village in the district after a brief exchange of fire. Troops of 55 Rashitriya Rifles, special operation group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint search operation after they got a tip off about the presence of militants in the village. However, when the security forces were sealing the particular area in the village, militants hiding there opened indiscriminate firing, in which the four soldiers were critically injured. The injured were shifted to 92 Base Hospital, where they reportedly succumbed to their injuries.
Two terrorists including a top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed, which has claimed the responsibility of Pulwama attack, is said to be trapped in the encounter. Kamran and Ghazi, the JeM operatives are suspected to be the brain behind the attack on CRPF convoy.
Officials said additional security forces were rushed and all exit points were sealed to foil any attempt by the militants to escape. Additional security forces and state police personnel were deployed in the adjacent villages to prevent any demonstration, they added.
A civilian who was also hit by a bullet near the encounter site has also succumbed. The residents in the nearby houses have been shifted to safer places.A police spokesman said that details are awaited about the encounter, which ensued three days after CRPF personnel were martyred in a fidayeen attack.
Meanwhile, mobile internet service, which was resumed on Sunday night in the valley after remaining suspended during the day, has been blocked again in Pulwama, where additional security forces have been deployed in main and other towns to prevent demonstrations.
