Trooper injured in stone pelting succumbs
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 26 : Two militants and a soldier were killed in a gunfight in Pazalpora area of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district this morning.
Army’s 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and 92 Battalion of CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation in Pazalpora area of Sopore. Click here to watch video
The operation was launched following specific inputs about the presence of some militants in the area. Militants opened fire on the troops as they launched searches in the area.
An Army soldier Brijesh Kumar was injured earlier in the initial gunfire. He was rushed to 92 Base Hospital in Badamibagh Srinagar, where he succumbed to his injuries.
A police spokesman said that as the search operation was going on, the hiding militants fired upon the search party, which retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed.
The spokesman said: “In the initial exchange of fire, one security forces` jawan received serious bullet injuries and was evacuated to hospital for medical attention. However, the injured jawan succumbed at the hospital. He has been identified as Lance Naik Brijesh Kumar of 22 RR.”
Authorities have snapped internet services in Baramulla and Sopore and closed all the Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools in Baramulla, Sopore and Rafiabad for today.
And at least 20 persons were injured during clashes that raged between security forces and protesters in South Kashmir’s Anantnag and Kulgam districts where four militants were killed in a gunfight yesterday.
Groups of youth clashed with security forces at Anantnag, Redwani, Arwani, Wanpora, Khudwani, Bijbehara, Hawora-Mishpora, Watoo Aharbal and Damhal Hanjipora areas in the district. At least seven protesters were injured in the clashes and few of them with pellet injuries were referred to hospital.
At least 13 persons were injured in clashes in parts of Kulgam including Redwani area of Kulgam district. Three had received bullet wounds and were referred to Srinagar hospital.
Clashes also took place in parts of Baramulla including Old Town Baramulla, Bag-i-Islam, Brat Kalan Sopore and its adjoining areas.
Six militants were killed in separate gunfights yesterday at Arwani in Anantnag and Kreeri in Baramulla were buried today. Four militants of Hizbul-Mujahideen -Sahir Makroo of Arwani, Owais Ahmad Lone from Hawora-Mishpora area of Kulgam, Muzamil Magray of Watoo Aharbal and Amir Tantray of Damhal Hanjipora Kulgam -were killed in a gunfight with the security forces in Khar mohalla of Arwani last night.
Minhajul Mohiuddin son of Ghulam Mohiuddin resident of Brath Kalan Sopore and Aqeel Rashid Sofi, 17, son of Abdul Rashid Sofi of Khanpora, Baramulla were killed in Kreeri Baramulla and they were also buried today.
In the meantime, Army today paid tributes to three Army soldiers, killed in separate incidents in Kashmir valley, in last two days.
“In a solemn ceremony at BB Cantt, Lt Gen AK Bhatt, GOC Chinar Corps and all ranks paid homage to the slain soldiers. Director General of Police Dilbag Singh and representatives from various security agencies also joined in paying their last respects to the soldiers”, a statement issued by Army said here.
Among the soldiers paid tributes include Lance Naik Brajesh Kumar, 32, who sustained splinter injuries during a fierce operation in Malgunipura, Sopore today during an encounter. Kumar had joined Army in 2004 and hailed from Village Nanawin in Una district of Himachal Pradesh. He is survived by his wife and a daughter.
Other soldier, Sepoy Ngamsiamliana was killed during a standoff attack on an Army Camp in Luragam village of Tral, Pulwama yesterday. Sepoy Ngamsiamliana, 23, hailed from village Rengtekawn in Kolasib, Mizoram and had joined Army in 2013. He is survived by his parents.
A soldier, Sepoy Rajendra Singh, 22, was part of the Quick Reaction Team which was providing security (protection) to a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) convoy on October 25, who was injured in stone pelting succumbed today.
“At around 1800 hours, when the convoy was passing through the Anantnag bypass tri-junction near NH-44, few youths hurled stones at the vehicle and Sepoy Rajendra Singh was injured after being hit by a stone directly on the head. He was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to 92 Base Hospital but unfortunately succumbed to the injury,” the statement said. Sepoy Rajendra hailed from village Badena in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand and had joined Army in 2016. He is survived by his parents, the statement added.
And militants today fired at SOG camp at Gagran in Shopian and the guards on duty retaliated forcing militants to flee. No loss of life or injury took place in the attack.
Militants today fired upon an Army patrol party of 34 RR near camp of 34 RR at Matribugh in district Shopian today. However, there was no loss of life or injury.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on today expressed grief over the death of a soldier from the hill-State who made the supreme sacrifice while fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said.
Brijesh Kumar (32) was a resident of Nanavi village of Bangana sub division in Himachal Pradesh’s Una district. He was killed in an encounter in Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district earlier in the day.
In his condolence message, the Chief Minister said Kumar sacrificed his life for maintaining the unity, integrity and security of the nation.
The brave soldiers of Himachal Pradesh have always made supreme sacrifices for the sake of the country. Their sacrifices will always be remembered by the people of the State and the country, he added.
Expressing his heartfelt condolences, Thakur said the people of Himachal were standing with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.
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