Two IAF Garud Commandos, Two Terrorists Killed In Bandipora Encounter, Operation Underway

Two Garud commandos of the Indian Air Force were killed after an encounter with terrorists in the Hajin area of Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.

According to earlier reports, three security personnel had sustained injuries.

The injured personnel were evacuated to the 92 Base Hospital here where they succumbed to injuries.

They have been identified as Sergeant Milind Kishor and Corporal Nilesh Kumar.

The IAF personnel were part of the operation for training. Garud commandos participate in operations during their army attachments.

Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were also killed in the encounter, which began in the wee hours of the day.

They have been identified as Ali alias Abu Maaz, a Pakistani militant, and Nasrullah Mir, a local militant.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, 13 personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and nine paramilitary force personnel are deployed in the operation which is currently underway.

Hajin, once known as the hub of pro-government militia, Ikhwan, that broke the back of militancy in the late 1990s, is now seen as the most sensitive area.

According to the police Lashkar-e-Taiba is operating in the area, which acts as transit route to the militants, who infiltrate from the across the LOC.

Jammu and Kashmir director general of police (DGP) S P Vaid said these militants were involved in a number of terror attacks in which security forces personnel and civilians were killed.

"It is a big success for security forces," Vaid said.

The police say as the focus of the anti-militancy operations was south Kashmir where more than 70 youths have joined the militant ranks since January this year, the foreign militants in north Kashmir, especially in Bandipora belt, managed to establish a strong network in th area. At present, the police say, there are around 22 militants in Hajin belt alone of Bandipora district and most of them are foreigners.

(With agency inputs)