Kashmir: CASO resumes in Baramulla, 4 SF personnel, 2 militants killed

Fresh encounters ensued this morning after security forces were fired upon by militants in Kreeri Pattan in Baramulla, official sources said. Sniffer dogs besides drones were being used to track down the militants, they added.

However, there are conflicting reports about the death of militants as Director General of Police (DGP) said three ultras have been killed while police and defence ministry spokespersons said two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed, including a top commander.

Only two militant bodies have so far been recovered, official sources said.

They said the CASO was halted last night due to darkness though search lights were used during the operation.

The entire area, including a dense orchard besides a nearby nallah, were sealed from all sides to foil any militant attempt to escape under the cover of darkness. Additional security forces, including troops from Rashtriya Rifles (RR) remained deployed in the area throughout the night, they said.

However, with the first light this morning, security forces resumed CASO, they said, adding fresh contact was established with the militants who opened fire on the search party.

The operation was still going on when the reports last came in, sources told UNI.

The CASO was launched yesterday morning after militants attacked a CRPF and police naka party at Watergam Kreeri Pattan.

Two CRPF personnel identified as constable Lokesh Sharma and constable Khurshid Khan, both residents of Bihar of 119 Battalion CRPF, were killed.

A Special Police Officer (SPO) of Jammu and Kashmir police Muzaffar Ali Dar, a local resident, also made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

Later, security forces killed two LeT militants identified as Sajad Ahmad Mir alias Haider, alias Jaja of Brath Kalan Sopore (LeT Chief of North Kashmir) and Anayatullah Mir of Andergam Pattan, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT. DGP Dilbagh Singh and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar described the killing of Haider as a major success for security forces.

In the evening two soldiers were injured in the encounter, they said adding one of them later succumbed in the hospital. Later, the operation was halted due to darkness to avoid more casualties.