Four top ranking militants, including chief operations commander and district commander of dreaded Al Mansurainwere killed in Baramulla.
The army launched the attack after ultras killed a senior Indian commander on Saturday
SRINAGAR: A day after a commander of the Indian army was killed by militants, the army has launched a major operation against the ultras operating in the Kashmir valley on Sunday. Four top ranking militants, including chief operations commander and district commander of dreaded Al Mansurain, an outfit of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, were killed in two separate encounters in Baramulla district of north Kashmir.
Osama Pahalvan, chief operations commander of Al Mansurain and Abu Usman alias Saad Bhai, were killed in a fierce gun-battle with the troops of 22 RR at Dangerpora, Sopore. Three police constables were also injured in the attack. Some houses were damaged extensively in the gun battle.
"Following a tip-off, troops of 22 RR launched an attack. As the army neared the militants, they opened fire. In the encounter, we killed two top commanders of Al Mansurain, a shadow outfit of the Lashkar-e-Toiba", said Colonel Himant Kumar Joneja, colonel general staff (IW) at 15 corps headquarters.
Osama and Saad are Pakistani nationals and have been involved in a number of attacks in Kashmir. "They were both responsible for Friday's attack on an army convoy in Sopore. Two civilians were killed and four army jawans had suffered injuries in the attack," said Col Joneja. Imitiyaz Hussain, additional superintendent of police, Sopore, said: "The militants had unleashed a reign of terror in the area. They beheaded a doctor and an ex-army man in Sopore recently. Three of our jawans suffered injuries in the shootout," he said. Two militants were killed at Berahmpur village in Baramulla district. They belonged to the same group that killed Colonel G S Sarna, commanding officer of 29 Rashtriya Riffles (RR), on Saturday.
Col Sarna was the highest ranking army officer killed in any combat in Kashmir during 2006. Major M H Pitambre was the other who got killed, when he raided a militant hideout in Bijbhera area of south Kashmir.
Though the militants, who killed Col Sarna, have been trapped, there are reports of fierce gun battle between the army and the ultras. Two ultras have been killed by 29 RR. But the firing is on from the village, which indicates that some militants are still in hiding, Col Joneja said.
"We have engaged the ultras in the fight. So far, two militants have been killed. We are confident to eliminate them all," said the officer.
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