Soldier, Pulwama Jaish ultra killed in Anantnag

Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, June 18

A rifleman of the Army and two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants were killed in an early morning gunfight in Anantnag district of south Kashmir today. One of the slain militants was directly involved in the Pulwama attack of February 14 that left 40 CRPF personnel dead.

The martyred Army man has been identified as Anil Kumar Jaiswal.

The slain militants, Sajad Ahmad Bhat, alias Afzal Guru, and Tawseef Ahmad Bhat, were from Marhama village in Anantnag. They belonged to the fidayeen (suicide) squad of JeM.

DGP Dilbagh Singh said Sajad was directly involved in the Pulwama attack. “The car used by Adil Dar was procured in Sajad’s name and it is understood that Sajad was instrumental in converting it into an IED,” Singh said.

The militants were killed after several hours of firing.

Clashes erupted around the site, but were contained by the security forces.

Meanwhile, at the site of Monday’s gunfight in Achabal area of Anantnag, which concluded with the killing of a Major and a Pakistani militant, the body of a youth —  Nasir Ahmad Mir of Achabal, a second-year student at a local college — was found. 

SSP Altaf Khan said an investigation has been initiated. DC Khalid Jahangir said a probe would be conducted, if needed, after medico-legal formalities. The residents protested through the day against the killing. 

Monday IED attack: two soldiers succumb

• Two Army men injured in Monday’s Pulwama IED attack succumbed to their injuries at the Army hospital in Srinagar — one late Monday night and another early morning on Tuesday
• They have been identified as Lance Naik Ajit Kumar and Havildar Amarjeet Kumar, both from 44 Rashtriya Rifles