An Army Major and a militant were killed, while another officer and two troopers were injured in an encounter between Security Forces (SFs) and the militants in Achabal area in Anantnag District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on June 17, reports Daily Excelsior. Major Ketan Sharma was killed while another officer of the same rank and two soldiers were injured in the encounter. An unidentified militant was also killed in the gunfight and his body recovered, along with arms and ammunition from the encounter site, the Army officials said. The identity and group affiliation of the slain militant was being ascertained, they added. SFs had launched a Cordon-And-Search Operation (CASO) in the area in the morning. The search operation led to a gunfight after the militants fired on the forces, who retaliated. In the meantime, internet mobile service has been suspended as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of rumours.
Meanwhile, nine Army personnel and two civilians were injured when militants triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast fitted in a vehicle near an Army patrol in Pulwama District of J&K on June 17, reports Daily Excelsior. They said the multi-vehicle patrol of the 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was moving on Arihal-Pulwama road when the IED was detonated by the militants, injuring the personnel travelling in a bullet-and-mine-proof Casper vehicle. “A failed attempt was made to attack a mobile vehicle patrol of 44 RR with a vehicle-based IED while the Army patrol was moving in the general area of Arihal in district Pulwama today evening,” defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said in a statement in Srinagar.
Separately, a soldier was injured when an encounter broke out early on June 18 morning (today) between militants and SFs in Anantnag District of J&K, reports Daily Excelsior. For the second consecutive day exchange of fire took place at Marhama Sangam village near Bijbehara town of the District.