Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Jan 27: A Commanding Officer of the Army, who was awarded for his exemplary bravery yesterday, was killed in an encounter with militants in South Kashmir’s Tral area of district Pulwama this afternoon. A head constable of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and two militants were also killed in the gun battle.
Army’s 42 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and SOG and 185 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) cordoned off Handoora village this afternoon after receiving information about presence of two Hizbul Mujahideen militants.
The militants were hiding in the house of Jalal-ud-Din Khan and they opened fire on the search party of the troops injuring Commanding Officer of the 42 RR, Col M N Rai, Signalman Nilesh Kumar and police Head Constable (HC), Sanjeev Singh.
The injured, including the CO of 42 RR, were immediately airlifted to Army’s Srinagar-based 92 Base Hospital at Badami Bagh Cantonment.
The gun battle continued for about an hour in which two militants identified as Abid Ahmad Khan alias Hamza, son of Jalal-ud-Din Khan and Sheraz Ahmad Dar, son of Ghulam Hassan Dar, residents of Arigund in Tral were killed.
A Defence spokesman said here today that based on specific intelligence about presence of militants in a Handura area of Tral, South Kashmir, a joint operation by Rashtriya Rifles, Army and the SOG of Tral led by Col MN Rai, Commanding Officer was launched today, resulting into killing of two militants and recovery of 2 AK-47 rifles, ammunition and other war like stores.
“Colonel MN Rai and Signalman Nilesh Kumar of Army and HC Sanjay Kumar of SOG were injured. While being evacuated to the Army Hospital, Srinagar, Col MN Rai and HC Sanjeev Singh succumbed to their injuries and attained martyrdom”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that Colonel Rai was a brave officer and had been involved in intense operations in South Kashmir for last two years. “He always led from the front and undertook successful operations resulting into elimination of number of terrorists in past for which he was awarded with Yudh Sena Medal on January 26, 2015 in recognition of his exemplary service and bravery”, the spokesman added.
The spokesman said: “The Northern Army Commander paid rich tribute to the brave hearts for the valour and courage displayed by them in the line of duty. “Our heart goes out to the families and we pray the Almighty to give them strength to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude” , he added.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir, told reporters that the killing of Abid Khan is a major success for the security forces.
Superintendent of Police Tahir Saleem said: “We got information about presence of two militants in a village. Army and police launched operation against them. The militants were hiding in a house and they fired on us in which three security men including an Army officer were injured. Both the militants were killed.”
A police spokesman said here that on a specific information regarding presence of armed militants, Awantipora police, 42 RR and 185 CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in village Hundru, Tral.
“During the search operation, militants fired upon the joint search party triggering an encounter. Two HM militants Sheeraz Hassan Dar and Abid Khan alias Hamza were killed in the ensuing encounter”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that Sheeraz Hassan Dar son of Ghulam Hassan Dar resident of Arigund Tral was involved in the killing and intimidating Sarpanchs in Tral area. He was instrumental in motivating local youth into joining militancy.
The spokesman said that Abid Hussain Khan alias Hamza son of Jallaludin Khan resident of Hundru Tral was a HM militant and was involved in many militant activities. He was major support for militant Burhanuddin Wani alias Arif Khan.
Sources said that Abid and Sheraz had come to see his ailing brother Owais, who is suffering from cancer.
Abid’s father is a police Head Constable while his mother is a Government employee. He joined the HM in September 2012. Sheraz Ahmad Dar, before joining militant ranks, was a baker by profession. Hailing from Arigund in Tral, Sheraz joined militancy last year in August after he stole a rifle from his SOG friend, Latif Ahmad Gojri at his family quarters in Tral in August 2011.
The police spokesman said: “In this encounter Commanding Officer 42 RR Colonel M N Roy and Head Constable Sanjeev Singh of police, Awantipora gave supreme sacrifices of their lives. 2 AK rifles, 4 AK magazines, many rounds of AK rifle and one hand grenade was recovered from the encounter site.”
The killing of Colonel is the first casualty of Army in year 2015 which so far has managed to kill 10 militants this year.
Meanwhile, Governor N N Vohra has expressed grief over the loss of lives of Colonel M. N Rai of 42 RR and Head Constable Sanjeev Singh of Special Operation Group, who succumbed to their injuries after being wounded in the ongoing encounter with militants at Tral in Kashmir Valley.
The Governor has conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls.
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