2016-like attack on Army foiled in Uri, three LeT fidayeen killed

The encounter took place after the Army and police started searches in Kalgai area this morning following inputs about movement of terrorists.
Image used for representational purpose only.
Image used for representational purpose only.

SRINAGAR:  Security forces on Sunday foiled 2016 Uri-like attack by killing three Lashkar-e-Toiba fidayeen during a day-long encounter in Kalgi village, close to Line of Control (LoC) in Uri in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Four civilians and an army man were injured during the gunfight.

“Police, army and CRPF launched a joint cordon and search operation in Kalgi villages of Uri early this morning after locals informed the police that they have seen militants in the forest area,” Inspector General of Police North Kashmir, Nitish Kumar told New Indian Express.

He said the three militants were fidayeen and were planning September 2016-like fidayeen attack on army installation in Uri, close to LoC.

Sources said a joint team of army, police and CRPF conducted search operations in the dense forest area in the village to track down the militants, who were hiding there and planning a major attack on security force installations.  

“The security personnel were assisted by army helicopters in locating the position of militants,” they said.

“As the search operation was going on, militants hiding in the forest area fired on troops from automatic weapons. The fire was returned by the security personnel, triggering an encounter,” they said.

Kumar said in the initial gunfight, a militant was killed.

“The militants had taken three civilians hostage and security personnel rescued the civilians during operations and later launched a final assault on the militants,” he said.

More security personnel were rushed to the area after the gunfight erupted to tighten the siege and prevent militants from escaping.

Throughout the day, the area rattled with gunfire and explosions.

“The fierce exchange of fire between the militants and security personnel continued till this evening during which two more militants were killed,” Kumar said.

He said bodies of all three militants have been recovered.

Sources said three civilians and an army man sustained bullet injuries during the encounter and have been hospitalized.

“As per preliminary investigation, the slain militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba and were on a mission to launch September 2016-like Uri attack,” Kumar said.

In September last year, four militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad had attacked an army base in Uri, killing 19 soldiers and injuring two dozen others. All the four militants were also killed during the encounter.

Kumar said a large cache of arms and ammunition including AK 47 rifles, ammunition, warlike stores, medicines and incriminating material has been recovered from the possession of the slain militants.

He said the identity of the militants was being ascertained.

Asked whether the militants had recently infiltrated or were present there from some time, Kumar said, “As per our initial investigation, it seems that they had recently infiltrated”.

“Further investigations are going in,” he said adding, “We are indebted to villagers for informing us about the presence of militants and allowing us to foil major attack on security forces installations”.

Three cops injured in Sopore grenade blast

Two policemen and a paramilitary CRPF man were injured in a grenade explosion in sensitive Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district today. 

A police spokesman said militants hurled a grenade towards security forces’ bulletproof (BP) vehicle at Sopore town this morning.

He said the grenade landed inside the BP vehicle.

“However, before it could have exploded, a Special Police Officer (SPO) present inside the vehicle showed the presence of mind and threw the grenade on the road”.

“Two policemen and a CRPF man sustained minor injuries as the grenade exploded on the road,” he said. 

The spokesman said SPO saved lives of at least dozen security personnel present in the vehicle by throwing the grenade on the road.
 

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