Baramullah encounter ends; 3 terrorists killed, 5 security personnel martyred
SRINAGAR: One more Army jawan, who was injured during the gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla area, died on Tuesday.
In the Kreeri Baramullah anti-terror operation, which began on Monday, three terrorists have been killed while 5 security personnel have also been martyred- one from JK police, 2 CRPF, and 2 army soldiers.
The terrorists carried out an attack on the joint naka party in Kreeri area of Baramulla district on Monday, which left two CRPF jawans and a policeman dead.
Two Army personnel sustained gunshot injuries during the encounter. The security forces gunned down three terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Sajjad alias Haider. “Among three killed terrorists, two are top LeT commanders-Sajad alias Haider and Usman. Haider, the main conspirator in recent Bandipora killings, was instrumental in recruiting youth into terror folds and was involved in attacks on police, civilians and political workers,” said J&K Police.
Baramulla encounter has been a tricky operation for the security forces. It all started when the terrorists ambushed a joint party in which three security personnel, including two CRPF jawans and a cop were killed. A counter operation was started by the forces and two terrorists were neutralised, including a top Lashkar commander. However, the gunfight ensued as more terrorists rushed in.
Mir said that two Army jawans were critically injured in the gunbattle and while one of them died on Monday, the other jawan succumbed to the bullet injuries today. He also said that a top LeT commander is believed to be holed up in the area.
Dilbag Singh, DGP, Jammu & Kashmir, said: “Ongoing operation since yesterday morning at Kariri Baramulla concluded after about 36 hours with the killing of 3rd most wanted and LET commander Usman Bhai of Pakistan who was involved in the killing of Sh Wasim Bari his father and brother at Bandipora on July 8.”
According to DGP Sajad Haider was among the top ten terrorists in the union territory. The DGP said that the LeT commander joined the terror outfit in 2016, and was active like (former Hizbul Mujahideen commander) Burhan Wani.
The terrorist was involved in the killing of BJP’s former district president Waseem Bari and two of his family members in July this year. The encounter of these two terrorists is a big achievement for police and security forces,” Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir said.
Special police officer (SPO) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Muzaffar Ali of District Police Baramulla, constable Lokesh Sharma and constable Khurshid Khan of 119 Battalion CRPF were martyred on Monday.
Earlier on Monday, security forces had chased the terrorists after the attack and killed two of them, including Sajad Haider -a top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit in north Kashmir. Another was killed on the second day of the operation.
(With Agency Inputs ).
