Five security personnel and four suspected militants have been killed in two gun battles in Kashmir, officials said yesterday.
Tensions are high after New Delhi scrapped Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status in early August, with flashes of violence reported regularly.
Four army personnel, including two officers, a counterinsurgency policeman and two militants died after a firefight in the village in Handwara near the Line of Control, said army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia.
They had entered a home to “to evacuate the civilians” but came under “heavy fire” from militants inside the building, Kalia added in a statement.
It was unclear why the men had entered the house, with a police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, saying they had “walked into an ambush”.
On Saturday, two suspected militants were killed by security forces in a brief shootout in the Pulwama area of the southern Kashmir valley, police said.
One of the slain militants has been identified as Haider, a top commander of the Laskar-e-Taiba (LeT), officials said.
Inspector Generalmof Police Vijay Kumar called his elimination a major success in the anti-militancy operations by the security forces.
“Haider was sent to Kashmir by his handlers to re-organise and re-orient LeT whose top cadre had been completely wiped out in anti-militancy operation. His death is a major setback to the perpetrators of terror across”, a top intelligence officer said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to the slain officers and said their valour and sacrifice would never be forgotten.
“Tributes to our courageous soldiers and security personnel martyred in Handwara. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. They served the nation with utmost dedication and worked tirelessly to protect our citizens. Condolences to their families and friends,” Modi tweeted.
Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, “I bow to our soldiers and security personnel martyred while protecting our motherland during an encounter with terrorists in Handwara in J&K. Nation will always remain indebted to their supreme sacrifice. My deepest condolences to their bereaved families.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said their sacrifice and bravery would never never be forgotten.
“The loss of our soldiers and security personnel in Handwara is deeply disturbing and painful. They showed exemplary courage in their fight against terrorists and made supreme sacrifice while serving the country.
We will never forget their bravery and sacrifice,” Singh tweeted.
At least 54 militants have been killed in Kashmir this year, including more than 30 since the start of a lockdown from late March to check the spread of the coronavirus.
Early last month at least five soldiers and nine militants were killed in two separate firefights over two days in the Kashmir Valley.
A soldier stands guards as gifts are being distributed to medical staff at a children’s hospital as a tribute to those involved in the fight against the spread of the Covid-19 in Srinagar yesterday.
