4 security personnel killed in Jammu firing

SRINAGAR: Four security personnel were killed and another injured when militants opened indiscriminate fire on a search party in Surankote area of Jammu’s Poonch district on Monday.

Inspector general of police (Jammu) K Rajendra Kumar said following specific information about the presence of militants in Tranawali near Bufliaz-Surankote, a joint operation was launched by the army and police.

“As the militants saw the security forces approaching, they resorted to heavy firing, in which two army personnel and two special police officers (SPOs) were killed. The operation is still continuing,” he said.

The slain army men have been identified as naiks Vaishno and Jarman Singh of 16 Rashtriya Rifles, while the SPOs are Maqbool Hussain Shah and Mohammad Maroof. Another army jawan, Om Parkash, was injured.

Kumar claimed some of the militants suffered injuries in retaliatory fire.
Meanwhile, J&K Police achieved a major success when they killed top Hizbul Mujahideen militant Muneer Pir alias Munawar in a gunfight in Ramban. “He was wanted in many cases and was killed last (Sunday) night,” Kumar said.

Police said an AK 56 rifle, three magazines, two Chinese pouches and a Nokia 1208 mobile phone set were recovered from the slain militant. 

Police also arrested district commander of Hizbul Mohommad Yousuf Ganie alias Moulvi alias Babber in Handwara. Yousuf was a Pakistan-trained militant and was active in the Valley since 2001. Two Chinese grenades were recovered from him.
h_ishfaq@dnaindia.net