Three terrorists were gunned down while a Special Police Officer of J&K Police was martyred in a gun battle in north Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Vijay Kumar said security forces shot dead three Pakistani terrorists affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammad in a 'chance' encounter in Baramulla district.
He said a Special Police Officer, Mudassir Ahmad, who was a member of an elite police unit, was also killed in the encounter. IG Kumar said that the gunfight broke out at Najibhat Kreeri area at a checkpoint laid by the security forces.
“There were multiple Nakas across Kashmir today. At a Naka at Najibhat, there was a chance encounter and three Pakistani JeM terrorists were killed. One of our brave policeman was also killed in the encounter," IGP told reporters in Baramulla. Kumar said they were pained at the loss of one of his men.
"At time in such chance encounters, we have to face collateral damage," he said. Defence sources said the three militants were moving in a Santro car. "On receiving specific intelligence that some suspected persons were moving towards Mirangund from Puthkah in a Santro car, a joint team of the (Army’s) 52 RR and Baramulla police launched a surveillance cum ambush operation. The team was fired upon by the terrorists and gun fight started leading to elimination of three foreign terrorists,” they said.
“These terrorists were active in this area for the last 3-4 months and were being tracked by police and security forces.” IGP Kumar termed the killing of the three militants as a huge success for the forces and said a major attack has been averted.
"The three Pakistani terrorists were planning to carry out a big attack is Srinagar and their elimination is a major success, he said. He said incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the encounter site. The encounter took place a day after a policeman was killed and his nine-year-old daughter was wounded in a militant attack in Srinagar.