Year’s first gunfight: Three militants killed in Tral

Srinagar, Jan 3: In this year’s maiden gunfight,three militants were killed while an army man sustained injuries i in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday.

The Srinagar based defense spokesman confirmed that the injured Army man is stable and is undergoing treatment.

Official sources said that the soldier identified as Sepoy Nehminlan Haokip of 42 RR was airlifted to Udhampur for treatment.

A police spokesperson said that based on a credible input about the presence of militants in higher reaches of Tral in Awantipora, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by Police and army in the area.“As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the militants. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight in which three militants were killed,” police said in a statement

The slain militants were identified as Zubair Ahmad Bhat (Abu Huraira), son of Bashir Ahmad Bhat resident of Chursoo Awantipora, Shakoor Ahmad Parray(Jaffar) son of Ghulam Nabi Parray resident of Laribal Tral and Tawseef Ahmad Thoker (Abu Talha) son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-deen

Thoker resident of Chursoo Bunpora Awantipora.Following the gunfight, the youth took to streets and pelted stones on forces leading to clashes at some distance from the encounter site in which thirteen persons have reportedly suffered pellet injuries.

Meanwhile, sources said that the joint team of forces destroyed the hideout by blasting it so as to prevent people from visiting the spot.

Soldier killed in Poonch snow avalanche

Poonch, Jan 3: An army soldier was killed and another injured after an avalanche hit an army post in Sawjian sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
Official sources told that an army post of 40 RR came under an avalanche today morning at KK Galki, forward area in Sawjian sector along the line of control.
Two soldiers came under the avalanche, they said.
“A search operation was started immediately and the duo trapped under snow were evacuated,” they said.
However, one died on the spot and another sepoy Harpreet Singh of Punjab was taken to nearby army’s health facility for treatment, they said.
The deceased has been identified as Lance Naik Sapan Mehra of Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.
Station House Officer (SHO), Mandi, Anil Sharma also confirmed the incident. (GNS)