Hizb militant, soldier killed in Pulwama encounter
Srinagar: A Hizbul Mujahideen and a soldier were killed, while another soldier was injured in a gunfight in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday, officials said here.
Security forces launched a search operation in an orchard in Kamrazipora village of Pulwama in the early hours of the day on receiving information about the presence of militants there, they said.
The officials said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire, injuring two soldiers.
The injured security personnel were rushed to an Army hospital, where one of them succumbed, they said. The slain soldier was identified as Sowar Jilajeet Singh Yadav. In a solemn ceremony at BB Cantt, Lt Gen BS Raju, Chinar Corps Commander and all ranks paid homage to him later in the day.
One militant was also killed in the gunfight, the officials said, adding that an AK rifle and a few grenades were recovered from the encounter site.
Later in the day, Director General of Police (DGP), Dilbagh Singh said that the militant killed in Pulwama gunfight has been identified as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Azaad Lalhari.
“Azaad Lalhari was involved in the killing of police head constable Anoop Singh on 22 May 2020 at Prichu Pulwama where he fired at a Naka party,” local news agency GNS quoted DGP Dilbag Singh as saying.
He said six FIRs were registered against him. “Earlier he was detained under PSA as OGW and became active again,” the DGP said, adding that a charge-sheet had been filed against him in two cases earlier.
Soldier injured as militants attack patrol party near Sopore
Srinagar: A security force personnel sustained injuries on Wednesday as militants opened fire on a patrol party near Hygam crossing in Sopore, officials said.
The militants fired upon the patrol party of 52 Rashtriya Rifles unit at Hygam around 2.45 pm, the officials said.
They said one soldier sustained injuries in the leg.
Defence spokesman in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that militants fired at a QRT of army that was moving from Baramulla towards Gulmarg on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway near Hygam crossing. “A soldier was injured in the attack. Search operation in progress,” he said.
Officials said that soon after the attack, Army’s 52 RR, police and CRPF men rushed to the spot and cordoned off the whole area to nab the attackers.
“A vast area has been cordoned to track down the attackers,” they said.
