Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 5: A Divisional Commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit was killed and an Army jawan injured in a fierce encounter in South Kashmir district of Pulwama while two militants are trapped inside the cordon that has been strengthened to avoid militants from fleeing under the cover of darkness during the night.
DIG South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told Excelsior that on specific information this afternoon, regarding the presence of armed militants in village Ichgosa in South Kashmir district of Pulwama; Police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of counter insurgency Victor Force and para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a joint cordon and search operation at Mir Mohalla, Ichgosa this afternoon.
DIG said that the militants hiding inside the village opened fire on the search party and an encounter broke out. “One militant was killed in the encounter and he has been identified as Altaf Baba alias Gazi Baba, the Divisional Commander for South Kashmir of JeM outfit”, he added.
Police said that Altaf Baba was involved in the civilian killings of Nazir Ahmad Chopan resident of Kandipora and Mohammad Ahsan Wani resident of Kanigam. “He was also involved in abduction of Shameem Ahmad Dar resident of Aglar, Kandi. He was also involved in number of firing incident in the jurisdiction of police station, Rajpora”, police added.
Police said that Altaf Baba joined the JeM militant outfit in 2008. “He was motivated by Sajad Afgani alias Ahsan Bhai of Pakistan to join militant ranks and later replaced him after his death in an encounter”, he added.
Sources said that two more militants Abbas and Ashiq are trapped inside the village and the security forces have tightened cordon around the village to prevent them from fleeing the village under the cover of darkness.
Panic gripped the village after the gun fight broke out and residents of the village fled for safety. Some of the villagers were rescued by the security forces before the operation was launched.
This is the second major success in past one week for security forces in South Kashmir after the killing of the Divisional Commander and Financial Chief of HM for South Kashmir, Sajad Yousuf Mir son of Mohammad Yousuf resident of Litter Pulwama, and District Commander of HM for Shopian district and Mohammad Ashraf Rather alias Molvi, resident of Nowpora, Pulwama.
South Kashmir over the years had mostly been calm but this year security forces achieved major successes against militants. However, four Army personnel were also killed in an encounter in Tral area of South Kashmir last month.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
