2 security men, 3 JeM militants killed in Pulwama encounter

Srinagar, April 24
Two security personnel—including an Army jawan and a Jammu and Kashmir policeman of the Special Operations Group—and four Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were killed on Tuesday in a fierce encounter in a forest area in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

Based on intelligence developed by the police about the presence of terrorists, security forces, including the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), started a joint operation against hiding militants in the Laam forest of Tral area in Pulwama district, a police official said.

A gun battle broke out when the militants opened fire at the security personnel, the official said.

In the initial exchange of fire, one soldier and a policeman sustained injuries. They were evacuated to hospitals here but succumbed to injuries, the official said.

The slain security force personnel were identified as Sepoy Ajay Kumar and Constable Lateef Gujri.

Ajay Kuamr of 42 Rashtriya Rifles died at the Army Base Hospital here.

Four JeM militants were also killed, the official said, adding that weapons and other war-like stores were recovered from the scene of the incident.

While the individual identity of the slain militants is being ascertained, the official said at least two of them were believed to be foreigners.