Top JeM commander killed, jawan injured in Kashmir encounter

Srinagar: A top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was killed and a jawan of Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police was injured in a fierce encounter on Tuesday in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama, official sources said.About eight-hour-long operation ended as other holed-up militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness, sources told UNI. Train and internet services has been suspended for security reasons in south Kashmir, where situation is tense though under control.

Director General of Police (DGP) Dr S P Vaid said a tip-off was received that a group of two to three militants were planning to attack security force convoy on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir district of Pulwama. He said Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police, Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and CRPF launched a joint search operation at village Samboora, Awantipora, late last night at 0030 hrs. However, when the security forces were moving towards particular area in the village, militants hiding there opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons. Security forces also retaliate, ensuing a fierce encounter.

Dr Vaid, taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, said “"Encounter going on since last evening in Awantipura district. There was input about presence of 2/3 terrorists near NHW planning to attack convoy. Body of a terrorist recovered so far, search for others going on".However, sources said the encounter has ended after the house from where militants were firing was blasted by the security forces. Only one body of a militant has been recovered, they said, adding that it is believed other militants had managed to escape under the cover of darkness. 

The slain militant was identified as Noor Mohammad Tantray, most wanted a top commander of JeM, who was involved in several militancy-related incidents.Additional security forces and police personnel had been deployed on the national highway to prevent any stone pelting incident, particular at Awantipora and Pampore.(UNI)