6 soldiers injured in Pulwama IED blast; 3 jawans hurt in Anantnag search op attack
The sinister design of terrorists to enact the February 14 like Pulwama terror attack on Monday evening in Arihal area of Pulwama by triggering an IED blast on a patrol party of 44 Rashtriya Rifles was foiled and damage minimised due to the alertness of the security forces and the troops travelling in the hardened ALS (a fortified truck).
However, in another incident earlier, an Army Major was martyred and a terrorist killed, while another officer and two troopers were injured on Monday in an encounter between security forces and the ultras in Jammu & Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said.
An intelligence report about terrorists’ attempt to use an IED blast on a Army convoy in South Kashmir districts and subsequent alertness obiviated the crisis.
Terrorists had used a similar strategy while targeting a CRPF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on February 14 in which 40 paramilitary troopers were killed.
The area, where Army vehicle was targeted by the terrorists was roughly 25 kms away from the site of the Pulwama terror attack. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson in Srinagar claimed a “failed” attempt was made to attack a mobile vehicle patrol in the general area of Arihal in Pulwama.
He said, “All troops are safe with minor injuries”.
Police spokesperson in Srinagar said, “Six Armymen have sustained injuries in the terror incident while two civilians also sustained injuries due to powerful explosion”. “The entire area has been cordoned off and search in the area is going on,” he added.
In another anti-terrorist operation, a Major of the Indian Army on Monday attained martyrdom in Badura area of Anantnag while one terrorist, believed to be a foreign national, was neutralised during the day-long operation.
Police spokeperson in Srinagar said, “During a search and cordon operation by the joint forces at Badura in Achabal area of Anantnag, terrorist fired on the search party.”
“The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the heavy exchange of fire, a senior army officer ,identified as Ketan Sharma, sustained gunshot injuries”.
He was evacuated to the hospital where he attained martyrdom, the police spokesman said.
Two other Army officers were currently undergoing treatment in the command hospital in Srinagar, police spokesperson added.
Police said the body of the terrorist was retrieved from the encounter site . The identification and affiliation of the killed terrorist is being ascertained.