Slain ultra believed to be Pakistani
3rd group eliminated in 2 months
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 19: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was martyred and a militant was killed in fresh encounter at Thannamandi in Rajouri district which resumed 13 days after the initial gunfight in which security forces had eliminated two ultras including one hailing from Shopian in South Kashmir.
“Slain militant couldn’t be identified immediately but he is believed to be a Pakistani,” DIG Rajouri-Poonch range Vivek Gupta told the Excelsior.
He said the militant was killed at Kalas Danna which is not far away from Panghai area of Thannamandi where two militants were eliminated on August 6. He was believed to be part of the same group.
Army, CRPF and Police had been maintaining strict surveillance in Panghai and surrounding areas of Thannamandi after the killing of two militants as there were reports that the group comprised three militants and one of them was still at large.
“During searches, an Army party led by JCO Ram Singh was fired upon by the militant from a Nullah at Kalas Danna area, about three to four kilometers away from Upper Panghai, this morning, causing injuries to the JCO.
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“Despite being injured, the JCO and his colleagues retaliated immediately killing the militant”, sources said.
Martyr JCO Subedar Ram Singh, 46, hailed from Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand and is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
“Subedar Ram Singh was a brave and highly motivated
soldier. The Nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” a Defence spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding White Knight and all ranks saluted the braveheart Sub Ram Singh who made the supreme sacrifice during operation in Thannamandi at Rajouri and offered deepest condolences to his family.
His body will be sent to his native town with full military honours.
Body of the slain militant has been recovered from the spot and he is believed to be Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) cadre from Pakistan, sources said, adding that from his possession security forces have recovered one AK rifle, one pistol, magazine and large quantity of ammunition.
It, however, remained a mystery as to how the militant survived without food for 13 days as first contact by security forces was established on August 6 during which two militants were eliminated while he managed to escape.
Security forces were investigating whether some local people helped the militant with food etc.
From among two militants killed on August 6 in Thannamandi, one hailed from South Kashmir’s Shopian district and another was a Pakistani.
There were reports that three militants had infiltrated into Rajouri from the Line of Control (LoC) and were on way to Dera Ki Gali (DKG) from Thannamandi to take mountainous route along Mughal Road to reach South Kashmir when they were trapped by the security forces.
With today’s killing, all three militants in the group have been eliminated. However, taking no chance, security forces continued to maintain cordon in entire forest area surrounding Thannamandi to ensure that there is no other militant there.
“The search operation is still on but we believe that he was the lone surviving militant in the area who got killed this morning,” sources said.
Prior to killing of three militants in Thannamandi, Army had gunned down three militants in Sunderbani sector in Rajouri district last month but during the process two Army soldiers were martyred. In Nowshera sector also, one militant was killed.
There have been reports that the militants were trying to revive militancy in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
Ahead of Independence Day, police had executed two successful operations in Poonch in which four sticky bombs and Rs 25 lakh worth hawala money were recovered.
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