Unabated violence continues in J&K

SRINAGAR; It was another day of unabated violence in Kashmir. A lieutenant colonel of the army and 12 militants were killed in different militancy-related incidents in the  trouble-torn valley during the last 24 hours. Major General NK Singh, general officer commanding (GOC) of counter insurgency force KILO, said Lt Col VR Chauhan was killed in an encounter with militants at Bandipora town in north Kashmir district of Baramulla on Saturday morning.

“On a tip-off, the troops and BSF launched a joint operation on a suspect’s house. In the ensuing encounter, Lt Col Chauhan was killed,” he said. Gen Singh said amidst the firing and grenade blasts, the building caught fire. “After the operation was called off, they recovered three charred bodies of the militants whose identification is in progress,” he said.

The GOC also said the army has foiled a major infiltration bid in Keran sector killing eight militants. “Army discovered some movement on the line of control at Keran sector and conducted an ambush. The troops killed eight militantsin the encounter,” he said. Gen Singh said they have recovered eight AK-47 rifles, 29 magazines, 478 rounds, 28 grenades and five radio sets. In a separate incident, a top commander of Lashkar-e-Tioba was killed in an encounter with 55-RR at Pulwama in south Kashmir. DGP Gopal Sharma identified the commander as Osama, a top militant of LeT in south Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the J&K police have solved the case of fidayeen attack on the Congress rally at Sher-e-Kashmir Park on May 21. The DGP said they have arrested 12 persons who helped the Pakistani militants to carry out the fidayeen attack on the rally.