Srinagar, December 23
A senior Army officer and a top commander of LeT were killed and three soldiers wounded in a fierce encounter in north Kashmir district of Baramulla today,
a Defence Ministry spokesman said.
Troops of 29 Rashitriya Rifles (RR) received specific information this morning that a group of militants were hiding in Behrampora village near Pattan, 27 km from here.
The troops, led by Commanding Officer Col G.S. Sarna, rushed to the area and sealed all exit points. However, when the troops were about to storm a particular house, militants, hiding inside, opened indiscriminate firing. In the encounter, Colonel Sarna received bullet wounds in the abdomen. He later died at a hospital, the spokesman added.
Sources said reinforcements were rushed to the area from nearby camps
and militants were being asked to surrender.
A self-styled district commander of LeT was killed and three soldiers were wounded in the encounter, a report from Baramulla said, adding that the house in which the militants were hiding was also damaged.
Locals alleged that security forces fired rockets and used explosives to blow up the house.
Meanwhile, another encounter ensued between a joint search party of 22 Rashitriya Rifles and the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the police and militants at Dangerpora, Sopore, 55 km from here this afternoon. Further details are awaited, official sources said.
— UNI
