BARAMULLA: An Army officer and a policeman were critically wounded while two militants are believed to have been killed in an ongoing gunfight in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday, sources said.
The gunfight erupted when the joint operation was launched by forces early morning following an input about militant presence at Yedipora Pattan.
“The cordon was laid and contact with the militant was established. An Army Major was critically wounded in the initial exchange of fire,” sources said, adding that the condition of the injured officer is stated to be stable.
Special Police Officer Naseer Ahmad was injured in the gunfight later. The injured SPO has been shifted to a Srinagar hospital.
A senior police officer said that the bodies of two militants were seen at the encounter site.
He said the operation is still underway.
On Thursday evening three suspected three Lashkar-e-Toiba over ground workers were arrested from Pattan area by the joint force.
The three, a police officer said, were arrested at a Naka set up by forces.
“During routine checking three persons moving from Zangam crossing to main market Pattan on national highway Baramulla road were observed moving in a suspicious manner. The individuals were challenged to which they tried to flee. The Naka personnel cordoned and apprehended the fleeing individuals. On spot frisking and physical search three grenades were recovered from them,” a police officer in Baramulla said.
The three were identified by police as Abid Parvaiz of Andergam Pattan, Javaid Hassan Ittoo of Goushbugh Pattan and Jan Nissar Khaliq of Chanderhama Pattan.
“All three were working as OGW for Lashkar,” the officer said.