In a significant success against insurgency, the Army killed nine militants in one of the biggest encounters with militants in Jammu and Kashmir in recent times.
9 militants killed, five jawans injured
RANGWARI: In a significant success against insurgency, the Army killed nine militants in one of the biggest encounters with militants in Jammu and Kashmir in recent times. But the army lost two majors in the gun battle that began in the early hours of Tuesday
Major K P Vinay of 34 Rashtriya Riffles, who was to get married on October 29, sacrificed his life for the country, while Major Dinesh Raghuraman of the same unit died before he could see his yet-to-be born baby. Both the officers were part of the company which killed nine militants in the 36-hour gun battle. Lieutenant Colonel AK Mathur, defence spokesman, said the soldiers started a search operation on October 1 and 2 after receiving information about terrorists lurking in the area.
“The gun battle started early on Tuesday morning when militants fired at the troops causing some casualties. However, our soldiers foiled three attempts made by the ultras to break the cordon and escape. In the gun battle, which lasted for more than 36 hours, nine militants were killed,” he said.
The army lost its two officers, while five other ranks were injured. Some residential houses also suffered damages. “Leading from the front, Major KP Vinay and Major Dinesh Raghuraman of 34 RR made a supreme sacrifice in the best tradition of the army,” said Col Mathur.
Major Vinay was scheduled to go on leave within a few days for his marriage. He had invited his commanding officer for the wedding in Hyderabad. Major Raghuraman, too, was scheduled to go home as his wife is due to deliver their baby. “They were brave guys and we will miss them,” said Colonel Harjinder Singh, commanding officer of 34 RR.
“In a general area, two or three militants get killed usually. It was the biggest operation in a way that we killed nine militants in a single go in the depth areas,” said Colonel Manjinder Singh of 15 corps headquarters.
The army has so far recovered the bodies of nine terrorists and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Search operations are still under progress.
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