3 LeT ultras, Jawan, girl killed in Poonch

KT NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, Feb 3: Achieving a major success, security forces and police in a joint operation eliminated three top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants including an 'area commander' where as army jawan and a teenaged girl were killed in the same gun battle which lasted for atleast 4 hours at Bafliaz area of Surankote in district Poonch.

An army jawan also sustained injuries in the gun fight.

In another operation at Kotecharwal near Dharamsal, a Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) ultra and a Special Police Officer (SPO) were injured.

In an offensive against the LeT ultras security forces and police achieved a major success by eliminating three top LeT ultras including an 'area commander' at Bafliaz area of Surankote tehsil of district Poonch.

A teenaged girl who was reportedly sleeping with the militants in the house was killed in the cross-firing of militants and security personnel while an army jawan lost his life and another got injured in an encounter.

Acting on a tip off a joint operation was launched by the troops and police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Surankote PR Shan in Bafliaz area of Surankote in the wee hours this morning.

The security personnel laid cardon around the house of Said Mohammad Khan and asked the militants to surrender.

As one of the army jawan identified as Sepoy Anil Patel went near the door of the house and asked the militants to come out, the militants sleeping inside with a teenaged girl opened heavy volume of fire on the sepoy killing him on the spot.

The militants then opened fire on the search operation party which was effectively retaliated.

The security forces managed to eliminate all three holed up ultras including an area commander.

The girl who was sleeping in the same house was also sustained bullet injuries and died on the spot.

The other family members of the deceased girl who was forcibly asked to sleep with militants, however, managed to escape from the house unhurt.

The slain ultras were identified as Ibne Najir call sign H-4 (area commander of LeT), Abu Hassan call sign 34 and Osman- all residents of village Kathore Pakistan.

The deceased teenaged girl has been identified as Rubina Kousar, daughter of Said Mohd Khan, resident of Bafliaz.

Two AK rifles, 7 AK magazines, 78 rounds of AK ammunition, 1 Pistol magazines, `6 rounds of Pistol, 2 hand grenades, 1 radio set (damaged), 8 pencil cells and 2 pouches were recovered from the possession of slain ultras.

The house also suffered a damage in the gun battle.

Reports said that these LeT ultras were frequent visitor in the house of Said Mohd Khan and exploited teanaged daughter of Khan.

Last night three militants came to the house of Khan and forced her girl to sleep with them, reports said adding that these Pakistani militants were terroising the local residents and were exploiting their minor girls in the area.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Rajouri-Poonch range SM Sahai claimed that killing of these militants was a major set back for LeT cadre in Suankote and added that these militants were responsible for large number of civilian killings in the Surankote tehsil.

He said that they were Icon of terror in the area and locals heaved a sigh of relief with the elimination of these three ultras.

He said the LeT cadre had suffered a major set back as 7 top ultras were eliminated by secruitymen in last fortnight.

In another operation near Kotecharwal under the jurisdiction of police station Dharamshal in Rajouri an HM ultra and an SPO identified as Ashok Kumar number 721/SPO got injured today.

The operation was in progress till late tonight.