Srinagar, June 23: A Commanding Officer of Army’s Rashtriya Rifles was killed in a gunfight with militants in the forests of Lolab in Kupwara district Tuesday night.
PRO Defence, Lt Col Vineet Sood, told Greater Kashmir that CO of 18 RR, Neeraj Sood, was killed in Sivan area of Lolab. “He received bullets when he was leading troopers in an anti-militancy operation and later succumbed to injuries,” he said.
Sources said an encounter started between militants and troops in Sivan at around 9:30 pm. “The Commanding Officer stationed at Kuligam Lolab went along with his Quick Reaction Team in the forests after receiving information about the gunfight,” they said, adding that at around 10:15 pm, militants hiding in the thick forests fired upon the Commanding Officer.
They said after receiving bullet injuries, he was shifted to Military Hospital Drugmulla, where he was declared ‘brought dead.’
The police, however, said that they were not part of this anti-militancy operation and only three to four militants are active in the area where the gunfight took place. Following the incident, Army has launched massive search operations in the forests of Sivan Lolab to trace the militants.
“The Army has cordoned off the entire area and reinforcements have been rushed to plug off the escape routes,” sources added.
Meanwhile, Army said it foiled an infiltration bid in Kerni sector of Poonch
district after exchanging heavy fire with militants that left an officer injured.
A, Defence spokesman said troops observed movement of intruders at Nato Kalsa forward post in Kerni sector of the border district around 1930 hours last evening and challenged them when they tried to cross over to this side.
“The intruders opened heavy volume of fire which was retaliated by the troops forcing them to retreat towards Pakistan occupied Kashmir,” the spokesman said.
Lieutenant Nikhil Basmeet was injured in the firing, he said, adding his condition was stable.
The firing again resumed in the area after a lull of half-an-hour and continued intermittently till midnight, official sources said, adding Pakistani troops provided covering firing to the militants.
This was the second attempt by militants to infiltrate in Jammu division in the last two days. Earlier, BSF troops foiled an infiltration bid by militants near border outpost in Abdullian area of R S Pura sector of Jammu district on June 21.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST