Bandipora Encounter

Bandipora, May 5: An Army Major and a trooper were killed in a gunfight in this north Kashmir district, 54 kilometres away from Srinagar on Tuesday night.
Defence spokesman Lt Col JS Brar said that an Army Major and soldier were killed in the gunfight with militants in Chittibandi in Bandipora.
“Based on specific input an operation was launched in the forest area of Chittibandi Tuesday night .As the troops were closing in on the target area they were fired upon by militants resulting in injuries to one officer and a soldier, who later succumbed to injuries at military hospital,” Brar added. He identified the deceased troopers as Major Yogendra Rajbar and Rifleman Uttam Singh.
“The officer was a resident of Dehradun and had been operating in the area for close to two years. He is survived by his mother, sister and brother. Rifleman Uttam Singh is survived by his wife and two-year-old daughter,” Brar said.
He further added that operation was still on till last reports came in.
“The area is mountainous and densely forested and it has been raining heavily for the past 24 hours,” he added.
Police sources told Greater Kashmir that a raiding party of the army’s 7 Garwal regiment and local police was moved out Tuesday night to lay a cordon in Rather Mohalla of Chattibandi village following specific information that a group of militants was hiding there.
“Militants lobbed grenade and subsequently fired upon raiding.” police said.
“Two troopers including Major received critical injuries in the grenade explosion
and initial round of firing by the militants hiding in the area,” they said, adding that militants managed to escape.
They further added, that large reinforcements were rushed to the area this morning, and house-to-house searches conducted, but nothing was found. The operation was still on when reports last came in.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 6 May 2010 00:00:00 IST