Jaish district commander among 3 militants killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 22 (UNI) A self-styled District Commander (DC) of Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was among three militants killed in the Kashmir valley today.

A cordon and search operation was launched by Rastriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group (SOG) in village Kesrigam, Kakapora, in south Kashmir early this morning following a tip off that two militants were hiding there, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Pulwama Abdul Qayoum said.

However, when the area was being cordoned off from all sides, militants opened indiscriminate fire and also hurled hand grenades. The RR and SOG personnel retaliated and in the fierce clash, two militants Wasim, a resident of Pakistan, and Arshid Dar were killed.

He said Wasim, a self styled DC, was heading the outfit in the district and was wanted in a number of militancy related incidents.

Mr Qayoum said the two militants were involved in the killing of a number of civilians and causing blasts in south Kashmir.

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) spokesman told UNI that RR, CRPF and SOG launched a joint operation at Batpora, Bijbehara, in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag today.

He said a CRPF patrol party challenged a man who was holding a weapon and running toward nearby railway track.

The spokesman said the ultra ignored the signal and kept running in order to jump into river Jehlum. However, the CRPF personnel opened fire and killed him, he said, adding one AK rifle, one magazine and six rounds were recovered from the slain militant.

UNI