Col among 4 killed in Pulwama encounter

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 27

A recently decorated Colonel of the Indian Army, a policeman and two militants affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter at a village near Tral town in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district in the afternoon.
The gunfight broke out at Handoora village when security forces launched a counter-insurgency operation after receiving information about the presence of militants in the area, the sources said.

The militants, identified as Abid Khan and Sheeraz Ahmad Dar, were killed in the ensuing gunfight with the security forces, the sources said. “The two militants were hiding in the house (of Abid Khan) and they opened fire while trying to escape,” a police official said. Three security forces personnel, including an Army officer, were also injured in the gunfight. They were airlifted to Army’s 92 Base Hospital, the officials said. Colonel Munindra Nath Rai, Commanding Officer of 42 Rashtriya Rifles, and Head Constable Sanjeevan Singh of state police’s Special Operations Group, were critically wounded in the gunfight. Later, they succumbed to injuries, taking the total death toll to four.

Colonel Rai of 9 Gorkha Rifles, who was currently on deputation and leading the 42 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, had been awarded Yudh Seva Medal on this Republic Day, an army official said.

The other injured soldier of Rashtriya Rifles is being treated at Army’s 92 base hospital and is out of danger, the officials said. Two assault rifles and several grenades were recovered from the encounter site.

Khan was the son of a policeman and a resident of Handoora village where the gunfight took place. He had joined militancy nearly four years ago and was active in south Kashmir’s Awantipora-Pulwama belt. ar had joined the militant ranks last year. The Awantipora-Pulwama belt of south Kashmir has a significant presence of militants whose number has diminished across the region.

The security forces have conducted several successful counter-insurgency operations this month. Five militants were killed during a raid on a hideout in Shopian district.