Author:
Publication: The Daily Excelsior
Date: May 4, 2001
Infiltration bid thwarted on LoC
Army today achieved a major success
in their operations against Pakistan-sponsored militants by killing ten
hardcore militants in three separate encounters in Poonch and Rajouri districts
while two civilians including the one who had contested Panchayat elections
were shot dead by the ultras.
Poonch Brigade struck in a big way
alongwith Rashtriya Rifles in Sabjian area when it shot down five dreaded
militants of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit in a fierce encounter along Sabjian
bridge early this morning. A huge quantity of weaponry was recovered from
the slain militants.
Defence sources here said troops
of Poonch Brigade and RR had laid nakas along Sabjian bridge late last
night after jointly developing an information about the movement of militants
in the area.
At about 0600 hours today, army
personnel came across six to eight militants and asked them to surrender
alongwith their arms and ammunition. However, the ultras, who were well
equipped with sophisticated weapons, opened firing on armymen forcing latter
to retaliate.
A heavy exchange of gun-fighting
started between the two sides, which continued for two and a half hours.
Soldiers of Poonch Brigade succeeded in killing five militants without
suffering any casualty on their side.
Two to three militants escaped during
the encounter and were being chased by troops. Four AK-47 rifles with 18
magazines, 13 rifle grenades, one wireless set, seven hand grenades, one
Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), two AGLs, four pouches and Rs 15,000
of Indian currency were recovered from the spot.
Identity of slain militants hasn't
been established so far. Letter heads recovered from the encounter site
confirmed that slain militants were Hizbul Mujahideen activists and hailed
from Pakistan.
Another encounter took place between
army and militants in Khet village near Draba in Surankot tehsil late last
night. While militants managed to escape, a civilian was trapped in cross-firing
and got killed.
He has been identified as Mehndia
son of Wali Mohd, a local resident of Khet. Troops continued a chase for
the absconding militants, numbering between three to four.
Two hideouts of militants were destroyed
by security forces in Gursai area of Mendhar tehsil. Grenades and AK ammunition
was recovered from the hideouts of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.
Our Rajouri correspondent adds:
four militants were eliminated by army in an encounter late this evening
in Udarian Dudasan area under the jurisdiction of Thanna Mandi police station.
The encounter started following
militants' attack on a patrol party of army, which retaliated. One more
militant was trapped in the gun-fight but he escaped towards a dense forest
area.
Slain ultras were Lashkar-e-Toiba
activists but they couldn't be identified. Three AK rifles with nine magazines
and 252 rounds, six hand grenades and two Kenwood wireless sets were recovered
from their possession.
Bodies of the militants were handed
over to police by army jawans for identification.
Army personnel thwarted an infiltration
attempt on the LoC in Barsalla nullah of Sunderbani sector early today.
Two intruding militants were challenged
by army. In the resultant encounter, one ultra was killed while his associates
fled back to Pakistan under the cover of darkness.
Two pistols with three magazines
and 40 rounds were recovered by army from the scene of encounter.
Dead militant looked like an Afghani.
The bearded ultra, wearing a pathan suit, was suspected to be a 'commando'
of Pakistan army.
With the killing of nine militants
in three operations across Poonch and Rajouri district today, a total of
35 militants have been gunned down by army and police in the twin districts
during last one week.
The killings of such a large number
of militants has dealt a big blow to Pakistan-sponsored outfits of Lashkar-e-Toiba
and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz Ganai, who
had contested Panchayat election early this year, was shot dead by five
militants in his house at Gambhiri in Gool area of Udhampur district last
night.
The militants stormed into Ganai's
house and opened indiscriminate firing killing Ganai on spot. Militants,
who were believed to be the activists of Hizbul Mujahideen, escaped after
killing the civilian.
A security patrol reached the spot
after hearing sound of gun shots but by then the militants had escaped.
A search operation has been launched by security personnel to nab them.
Local people in Gool today protested
against the killing of civilian.
