Three militants including the District Commander of Jaish were killed in an encounter with police and security forces in village Hanjan, Pulwama.Meanwhile, the local staged protest demonstration, chanting pro freedom slogans. The police used tear smoke shells and pellet guns to disperse the protesting mob, locals told KNS. According to KNS correspondent about a dozen including three cops’ sustained injuries during the protests.DIG South Kashmir Vijay Kumar while talking to media persons termed the killing of three militants as a big success saying that deceased Jaish Commander Altaf Ahmad Rather was allegedly involved in killing of civilians, attacking forces and weapon snatching incidents.
According to a police statement issued to KNS, on a tip off regarding the presence of armed militants in village Hanjan, Pulwama in the jurisdiction of police station Rajpora last evening, Pulwama Police, 44RR, 182, 183 Bn CRPF cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. The militants hiding in the area fired on the joint search party triggering an encounter. The cordon was strengthened while searches were stopped overnight.The encounter started again when the search operation was resumed this morning in which three militants were killed. The slain militants were later identified as Jaish District Commander Altaf Ahmad Rather, Showkat Ahmad, Pulwama and Farooq Ahmad.
The slain JeM District Commander Altaf Ahmad Rather was involved in many militancy related activities. Altaf was one of the group members involved in the attack and weapon snatching incident at a police guard at Pakharpora shrine in District Budgam this year. Meanwhile, according to an army statement issued to KNS, three militants were killed in a joint operation launched by Army, SOG and CRPF in Hajan Bala village of Rajpora, District Pulwama resulting into killing of three militants and recovery of two AK 47 rifles, one self loading Rifle, ammunition and other war like stores.
“Yesterday evening, based on a specific intelligence input about presence of three militants at Hajan Bala village of Rajpora, a joint operation was launched by Army, JKP and CRPF. A tight cordon was established, blocking all escape routes. As the search operation commenced in the morning the militants hiding in the village opened fire upon the troops to break the cordon.”
The statement added: “The fire was retaliated, ensuing heavy exchange of fire between militants and the security forces resulting into the elimination of all the three militants. The bodies of the slain militants were recovered and handed over to the police.” (KNS)