Three infiltrators were killed in a day-long operation along the line of Control (loC) in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Sunday as police claimed the terrorists were planning a major suicide attack on an Army formation similar to last year’s strike that left 19 soldiers dead.
The action came on a day a a Special Police Officer (SPO), threw a grenade tossed into a security vehicle by terrorists out of the vehicle and saved lives of 15 of his colleagues.
Earlier, the infiltrators were killed when an encounter broke out closer to loC in Kalgai area of Uri, around 110 kms from Srinagar, when troops deployed along the sensitive area noticed movement of three terrorists late on Saturday evening. The area was cordoned off and routes for possible infiltration were sealed.
The exchange of fire began at around 2 am when searches were being carried out in the village situated closer to Uri-Kaman road. The Defence sources said that many civilians were evacuated during the gunfight.
The operation continued throughout the day and resulted in the killing of three terrorists till last reports came in. Defence sources said that the combing operation would continue for more time. “Three weapons have been recovered from the encounter site,” sources said, adding two civilians and a soldier were also injured in the operation. The slain terrorists have not been identified nor has their affiliation been ascertained. Two houses have suffered damage during the encounter.
Police chief Shesh Paul Vaid told reporters in Srinagar that with killing of three infiltrators a major tragedy was averted.
“A major tragedy has been averted like the last year’s suicidal attack on Army base. They (infiltrators) had similar plan. Before that police and Army got the information and foiled their plan,” Vaid said.
Vaid was referring to audacious attack carried by lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) terrorists on September 18 last year on an Army base in Uri region. The attack left 19 soldiers dead. The Indian Army repulsed the attack by launching much-debated surgical strikes along the loC on terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK) on September 29.
There are initial inputs that the ultras killed in Kalgai may have infiltrated on Friday night and planned to carry out an attack on an Army base around the village early Sunday, sources said.
Meanwhile, in a show of remarkable presence of mind and courage, a Special Police Officer (SPO), threw back a grenade in a reflex action from inside a security vehicle, saving lives of 15 of his colleagues.
The grenade tossed by suspected terrorists in Sopore market of north Kashmir, however, exploded on the roadside injuring three civilians and an equal number of cops.
Police said the SPO exhibited “exemplary bravery”.
“There were 15 policemen and CRPF in the bulletproof bunker vehicle when the grenade landed inside. The SPO showed exemplary bravery and presence of mind by throwing it back in no time and averting major causalities,” Senior Superintendent of Police Sopore Harmeet Singh said.
The policeman has received minor injuries in the action. His identity has not been revealed.
This is the second grenade attack in Kashmir in past four days. On Thursday, Works Minister and Chief Government Spokesman Naeem Akhter escaped unhurt in a grenade attack in south Kashmir’s Tral town that left two civilians dead and 30 others injured.
Vaid said militants have received consignment of grenades.
“We (forces) are careful,” Vaid told reporters on the sidelines of a function. In another operation, security forces busted a militant hideout in frontier district of Kupwara and recovered arms and war-like store.