An Army Major and a militant were killed and two soldiers including an officer of Major rank, sustained injuries in a gunfight in Achabal area of Anantnag district on Monday.
A police official said that Army’s 19 RR, Special OperationGroup (SOG) of J&K police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel ringfenced Badoora village of Achabal, following inputs about the presence ofmilitants in the area. “As the security forces closed in towards the house, theholed up militant opened fire triggering an encounter,” he said.
A source said the exchange of fire lasted for a few minutesbefore it came to a halt.
“Major Rahul Verma and one soldier were injured in theinitial fire fight. The duo was taken to a military hospital for treatment wherethey were operated upon,” he said.
“The security forces immediately launched massive searchoperations but it was only around 11am that a fresh contact was establishedwith a trapped militant,” a police official said.
“The security forces later started blowing up the housewhere the militant was holed up. But the militant came out of the house firingindiscriminately. Another Major rank army officer identified as Ketan Sharmareceived bullet injury this time around and died on the spot,” he said.
A source said the militant was killed in the open only.
“The operation was finally called off late in the evening,”a police official said. “The deceasedmilitant is believed to be a foreigner and is probably associated withJaish-e-Muhammad militant outfit.”
The house which was blown up belonged to slainHizbulMujahideen divisional commander Shabir Ahmad Sheikh alias Badoori.
Shabir who remained active in militant ranks for more than15 years was shot dead on 17 April 2005, along with his aide, GhulamMohiuddin,in an encounter with security forces at Marhama village of Sangam in Bijbeharaarea.
Meanwhile, clashes also erupted in Badoora and otheradjoining villages during the gunfight.
The mobile internet service in the district also remainedsuspended.
POLICE VERSION
In a statement a police spokesman said, “Army officer KetanSharma sustained gunshot injuries. He was evacuated to the hospital where hesuccumbed. Besides two other Army officials also sustained injuries and areundergoing treatment at the hospital.”
“We pay our rich tributes to officerKetan Sharma for thesupreme sacrifice made in the line of duty,” the spokesman added.
He said that the identity of the slain militant is beingascertained. “Incriminating material including arms and ammunition wasrecovered from the site of encounter,” the spokesman added.
“Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounterzone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completelysanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” he added.