Srinagar- Two unidentified terrorists were killed and five security personnel, including an officer, sustained injuries in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, police said on Saturday.
The gunbattle broke out in Adigam village in the Devsar area of the district after security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation there early in the morning.
According to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range, Vidhi Kumar Birdi a few soldiers, Birdi claimed, suffered injuries during the initial exchange of fire between the two sides. However, a police officer and a soldier, sources said, also suffered injuries later on.
Encounter broke out after a joint team of police and 9-Rashtriya Rifles (RR), following a tip off about the presence of terrorists, cordoned the Arigam area in Devsar Kulgam. The terrorists in hiding, according to sources, opened fire on the security forces, as soon as they zeroed in on the suspected spot.
The injured personnel have been evacuated to army hospital Badamai-Bagh cantonment here, and are stated to be stable.
The injured security personnel have been identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mumtaz Ali Bhatti, a 09 battalion army soldier Mohammad Isran, Sepoy Mohan Sharma, Seopy Sohan Kumar and Sepoy Yoginder. ASP Bhatti, sources, claimed, was hit in his right arm and left leg.
Confirming the death of two terrorists, the Jammu and Kashmir police on its official X handle said “Two bodies recovered from the encounter site. Identification and affiliation being ascertained, Incriminating material, arms & ammunition recovered. Search in progress. Further details shall follow.
A top police official said the dead bodies recovered from the encounter site were identified as Aqib Ahmad Shergojri, son of Nazir Ahmad a resident of Khanpora Sarai, Chadoora, Budgam and Umais Wani, of Chawalgam, Kulgam.
The slain terrorists, he claimed, were affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist organization.
Last night, the security forces following inputs about the movement of terrorists, cordoned off Arigam, Kulgam area, during which the joint team was fired upon by the terrorists, IGP Kashmir told reporters here.
“Following the encounter, the security forces targeted the house where terrorists were suspected to be hiding. Since I cannot share the specific details at this moment, we will be able to share details as and when the operation concludes. Some security forces personnel suffered injuries in the encounter which is still underway, but they are stable and are recuperating,” the provincial police chief added.
Cop Killed In Kathua Gunfight
A Jammu and Kashmir Police head constable was killed and an assistant sub-inspector was injured Saturday evening during an encounter between security forces and terrorists in a remote village in Kathua district, officials said.
The encounter at Kog-Mandli village in Billawar tehsil started around 5.30 pm when security forces launched a joint cordon and search operation following information about the presence of a group of terrorists inside a house, the officials said.
They said the firing initially lasted for a brief period but later resumed with both sides exchanging heavy gunfire.
A police head constable was killed and assistant sub-inspector was injured in the exchange of fire, the officials said.
The firing was going on when last reports were received and so far a policeman was injured, the officials said.
Earlier, a police official said, “Based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists, a joint search operation was launched by security forces at village Kog. Contact has been established and few rounds have been fired from both sides.”
The official said the area has been put under a tight cordon with the induction of the reinforcements from adjoining security camps.
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