The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Saturday, January 26, 2002, Chandigarh, India

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5 JeM militants killed in encounter

Srinagar, January 25
Five militants of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), including the outfit’s suspected “Operational Commander”, and a BSF jawan were killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Badgam district of Kashmir, a BSF spokesman said here today.

He said a BSF party, on getting specific information about the presence of JeM’s operational commander Tipu along with four of his associates, raided Darwan village, 7-kms south-west of Charar-e-Sharief, yesterday.

Militants hiding in the house of village headman Mohammad Akram Dar fired on BSF personnel killing a jawan, the spokesman said. The BSF jawans fired back and in the resultant gunbattle, the house caught fire and was gutted.

Dar confirmed the presence of five militants inside the house including Tipu, the spokesman said. The search of debris yesterday led to the recovery of two charred bodies and an AK assault rifle and ammunition, the spokesman said. PTI

A BSF jawan giving final touches to the arrangements made in connection with the Republic Day celebrations by the force in Lal Chowk, nerve centre of Srinagar, on Friday. —PTI photo

Army on high alert along the borders of Pakistan occupied Kashmir as India and Pakistan continue to trade fire across the border.
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