Mastermind of Pulwama fidayeen attack among 2 JeM militants killed, soldier martyred

Srinagar, Jun 18: Two militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), including mastermind of Pulwama fidayeen attack of February on CRPF, were killed and a soldier was martyred in an encounter which ensued on Tuesday during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Bijbehara in Anantnag district, official sources said.

The operation has ended, sources told TNN.

Meanwhile, mobile internet service remained suspended for the second day on Tuesday in Anantnag district as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of rumours.

Sources said on a specific information about the presence of militants troops of 3 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), CRPF and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint search operation at Waghoma Bijbehara in Anantnag district early Tuesday morning. All the exit points were sealed and house to house searches launched, he said adding that when the search party was moving towards a particular area in the village, militants hiding there opened fire. The fire was returned ensuing in an encounter, they said.

The sources said two JeM militants were killed in the encounter. Three soldiers were injured in the encounter who were later shifted to hospital. One of the injured later succumbed on way, they added.

The bodies of slain militants and large cache of arms and ammunition were recovered, they said.


One of the militant was identified as Sajjad Dar, the mastermind of fidayeen attack at Awantipora on Srinagar-Jammu national highway that left 44 CRPF personnel dead and scores injured. Majority of the militants also involved in the attack were eliminated in different encounters by security forces.
This is the second encounter in Anantnag district during the past 24 hours. At Bidroo Akingam Anantnag Major Ketan Sharma was martyred and two other soldiers were injured in the encounter. A militant was also killed and operation was still going on when the reports also came in.

Meanwhile, mobile internet service has been suspended in Anantnag as a precautionary measure to prevent any rumours. Mobile internet was suspended in Anantnag yesterday when encounter broke out at Bidroo Akingam in Anantnag. An Army Major Ketan Sharma, a resident of Uttar Pradesh (UP) was martyred and several other soldiers were injured. A militant was also killed in the encounter.

Additional security forces have been deployed in the nearby areas to prevent demonstration.