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Thursday, Oct 04, 2007
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Two Majors killed in Kashmir gunbattle

Shujaat Bukhari

Nine militants also killed in the biggest encounter in Kashmir in last five years

— PHOTO: NISSAR AHMED

Violent end: Bodies of militants killed in an encounter at Ringawari village in Tangmarg, 55 km from Srinagar, on Wednesday.

TANGMARG (North Kashmir): A fierce gunbattle between a group of newly arrived militants from across the border and troops of the Rashtriya Rifles at Ringwari village ended on Wednesday after nearly 32 hours, leaving two Majors and nine ultras dead. A few soldiers were injured and five houses, where the militants had been hiding, destroyed in what Army authorities said was the biggest encounter in Kashmir in the last five years.

Briefing reporters, Brig. Kuldip Singh, Commander of 12 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, said the militants were most probably associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba “as they seemed to be well trained.” The trapped militants tried to break the cordon, thrown round the village by the troops, at least four times. “But we did not let them go.”

Early on Tuesday the troops of 34 Rashtriya Rifles, on specific information, had intercepted a group of militants. The operation was targeted at not just the freshly trained militants but also three top militants of the area, including Bilal Afghani, who had received them near the border.

As the troops encircled them, the militants opened heavy fire, killing Major K.P. Vinay and injuring three others. The injured were airlifted to the Army Base hospital in Srinagar, where Major Raman died. His marriage had been fixed for October 28.

The condition of at least two soldiers is stated to be critical.

Reinforcements were called from the 12 sector of the Rashtriya Rifles and the firefight continued through the night on Tuesday and during day on Wednesday. The Rashtriya Rifles had authorities tried to persuade the militants to surrender and sent the village headman for negotiations but they refused. The headman himself was hit by a bullet in the hand.

(A PTI report, quoting a defence spokesman, said the bodies of the militants were recovered in the afternoon.)

The residents whose houses were damaged complained of huge losses: “They [the militants] came in the morning and occupied our houses. Two of us were asked to remain in the houses, but the women pleaded with them and we were let off,” said a house owner.

No militant outfit has claimed that it was involved in the incident.

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