In today’s encounter in Pulwama, the security forces also suffered heavy casualties. An Army Major and three jawans as well as a policeman were martyred.
Srinagar: In a big development, the security forces on Monday neutralised the mastermind of February 14 terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 40 personnel were martyred. Kamran, a resident of Pakistan, was killed in a fierce, 16 hour-long encounter today along with three other Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists. The encounter took place in Pulwama district where the CRPF convoy was attacked.
Pulwama encounter: Top developments
Kamran, a top commander of the JeM, was leading the group that is believed to have carried out the deadly February 14 attack. The second slain JeM terrorist has been identified as Hilal Ahmad, a local. The identity of the third is yet to be ascertained but he too hailed from Pakistan. Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.
Kamran is reported to have become the operational commander of JeM after Mufti Waqas was neutralised in an encounter in February last year. As per the police, Kamran had been active in Pulwama and Awantipora since 2017. He was involved in recruiting locals in terrorist activities. “Kamran’s role in the February 14 suicide bombing of a CRPF convoy was under the scanner of investigators,” a senior police official was reported as saying.
In today’s encounter in Pulwama, the security forces also suffered heavy casualties. An Army Major and three jawans as well as a policeman were martyred. A civilian was also killed in the cross-firing. Officials said at least nine security personnel also sustained injuries in the fierce gunbattle that took place in Pulwama’s Pinglan area. These included a Brigade Commander, a Lieutenant Colonel and a Deputy Inspector General of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The deceased soldiers have been identified as Major VS Dhondial, Havaldar Sheo Ram and Sepoys Hari Singh and Ajay Kumar. Among the injured were DIG (South Kashmir) Amit Kumar. All the injured are reported to be out of danger.
The security forces had received specific inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area and launched a cordon and search operation during the night. The encounter started after terrorists opened fire at the forces.
