Posted on 06/21/2003 11:38:31 AM PDT by swarthyguy
JAMMU, June 20: Army and police today gunned down four militants in Banihal and apprehended two Pakistanisone in Nowshera and another in Arnia sectorwhile the ultras beheaded an ex-serviceman in Surankote in the militancy-related incidents overnight.
In two separate explosions, an Army Major and a Lieutenant were among four security personnel injured in Mahore and Samba today, official sources said.
They said the troops of 23 Rashtriya Rifles and Banihal police launched a joint operation at village Tiranga in Khari area in Banihal tehsil under the jurisdiction of Ramban police district late last night. Operation was based on a specific information that a group of four hardcore militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit were camping in the village.
Security forces identified a hideout of the militants at 0230 hours and asked the ultras to surrender. However, the militants started heavy firing on the troops, who retaliated. In two and a half hour long operation, all four militants were gunned down by the army and police personnel. An army Havildar Manzoor Hussain was injured in the operation.
Of four slain militants, three have been identified as Abdul Rehman, Ayub Khan and Javed Ahmed, all foreign mercenaries, hailing from Pakistan. identity of the fourth militant, who was believed to be a local, has not been established.
Recoveries made from the scene of encounter included four AK rifles, four magazines, seven hand grenades and four pouches.
Army team in the operation was led by CO of 23 Rashtriya Rifles while police teams were led by DySP Operations Banihal, Yogesh Sharma and DySP Banihal Jaswant Singh Katoch under the supervision of SP Ramban Danish Rana.
Meanwhile, two militants entered into the house of an ex-serviceman Mohd Rashid son of Naseeb Ullah at village Gounthal in Surankote area in Poonch district at 2200 hours last night and kidnapped him. They beheaded the civilian in the captivity and threw his body in a field.
Body of the ex-serviceman was recovered by local people at 0145 hours today. Police sent the body for post-mortem and later handed it over to his family.
Mohd Rashid, 45, was posted in 7 JAK Li and had retired in 1998. Since then, he was putting up at Gounthal. Sources said no reasons could be ascertained behind his killing.
DIG Rajouri-Poonch range S M Sahai told EXCELSIOR that army and police with the help of civilians captured a Pakistani militant alive from forward village of Dingi along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector in Rajouri district this morning. He identified the captured Pakistani as Ikram Hafiz (code name Jarar), a resident of Mandra, Rawalpindi.
One AK-56 rifle, one wireless set, binoculars, explosives, five grenades and some war like material were recovered from his possession, Sahai said.
He said a total of four militants including the captured ultra were reported to have infiltrated into this side of the LoC this morning. Army and police have launched a massive search operation in the forward villages of Nowshera sector to eliminate three militants, who were reported to be hiding in the forest areas,
Another Pakistani was arrested by police from village Sei, about one kilometer inside the Indian territory, on the International Border in Arnia sector last night. He has been identified as Siraj Din, 50, son of Sardar Mohd, a resident of Farora, Gujranwalla. Police party, which nabbed the Pak national, was led by SHO Arnia Inspector Brij Mohan Sharma.
Barring a Pakistan made match-stick, no recoveries could be made from his possession, the sources said, adding Pak national was being questioned to ascertain motive of his infiltration.
Siraj Din was third Pakistani, who has been arrested in Jammu district during past few days. First Pakistani was arrested at Miran Sahib town, where he had reached on a bicycle after infiltrating from Alla Mai Di Kothi (AMK) post in RS Pura sector. Few days later, another Pakistani was arrested by the City police from outside the historic Ranbireshwar temple.
Meanwhile, a Major among three Army personnel were injured when militants blew up an Army vehicle in Mahore area of Udhampur last evening.
The sources said that militants detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) with a remote control when an Army vehicle was on its way from Dharmari to Bagga in Mahore tehsil of Udhampur. The explosion damaged the vehicle extensively and injured three Army personnel.
The injured Major Badal Suba, Naik Hakim Singh and Sepoy- Ganesh were evacuated from the site and rushed by helicopter to the Command hospital at Udhampur.
The jawans from nearby unit launched massive search operation in the area immediately after blast and picked up some suspects for questioning. But no clue about the ultras could be established.
Another report said that a group of militants attacked a Police post at Dhandli in Mahore last night with automatic weapons. The incident took place at around 10.15 pm when around 20 jawans of an IRP battalion were manning the post. The jawans effectively retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for about 45 minutes. No loss of life on the either side was reported. The militants after facing tough retaliation later escaped.
Meanwhile, an Army Lieutenant received injuries in his foot during demining activity at Moluchak in Samba sector this morning. The incident occurred at around 8.45 am when the soldiers were engaged in the demining activity along International Border in Samba.
The injured officer was shifted to the Army Unit hospital at Samba. His condition was stated to be stable.
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