Four security personnel killed in Kashmir

Five days after a top police officer and a soldier were killed in south Kashmir, terrorists killed four security personnel, including an officer of the CRPF and two cops, in an encounter in Kralgund village of Langate area Kupwara district in north Kashmir. A civilian was also killed in the clashes near the encounter site.

A CRPF official said one personnel of 92nd battalion of CRPF attained martyrdom and three others were injured in the encounter. All the injured have been evacuated to 92 Base hospital in Srinagar for treatment. "Heavy firing is continuing at the encounter site," he said.

Sources said the fatalities occurred when terrorists, hiding in the area, started firing heavily at the security forces, causing grievous injuries to some of the personnel.

Sources said that two policemen were also martyred in the operation. A civilian was also reported to have been killed in the clashes near the encounter site.

The encounter started after security forces received a tip off about the presence of terrorists in the Kralgund village. A joint operation was immediately launched by the Army, police and the CRPF, and the area was cordoned off. When the security forces were zeroing in on the target, they came under heavy fire.

The fire was retaliated, which triggered the encounter. The firing continued intermittently between the two sides and terrorists seemed to be highly entrenched.

Police identified two slain cops as Selection Grade Constables Naseer Ahmad Kholi and Ghulam Mustafa Barah. Two slain CRPF personnel have been identified as Inspector Pintu and Constable Vinod.

Police said the civilian was killed in the nearby area. "In the nearby area, one individual, identified as Waseem Ahmad Mir, also sustained a bullet injury, consequently succumbing at the hospital," a police spokesman said.

This is the second time in fortnight when security forces have suffered heavy casualties during anti-terror operations across Kashmir. On Feburary 24, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Operations Aman Kumar Thakur and an army soldier was killed in an anti-terror operation in Kulgam. Three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorrists, including two Pakistanis, were killed in the encounter.

On February 18, security forces lost five men, including a Major, while five others, including a Brigadier, Deputy Inspector General of Police and Lieutenant Colonel were injured in a gun battle at Pinglena village of South Kashmir's Pulwama district. Three top JeM commanders, including the Pakistani mastermind of Pulwama attack – Kamran — were also killed in the encounter.

FIGHT FOR PEACE

• According to the sources, the fatalities occurred when terrorists, hiding in the area, started firing heavily at the security forces, causing grievous injuries to some of the personnel 
   
• The encounter started after security forces received a tip off about the presence of terrorists in the Kralgund village in the Kupwara district 
   
• A joint operation was immediately launched by the Army, police and the CRPF, and the area was cordoned off