Kashmir: In a major blow to the militants in South Kashmir, security forces gunned down a top Jaish-e-Mohammad militant commander, known to be an IED expert in operation in Kulgam. While three militants were killed, three army soldiers were injured in the gunfight at the Nagnad Chimmer area of the Kulgam district.

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According to police, IED expert, Waleed Bhai was among three militants killed in the gunfight with a joint team of police, army, and CRPF in Kulgam district on wee hours on Friday.


Director-General of Police Dilbag Singh said that the militant commander had escaped previously from three to four encounters, leaving behind a MO4 American rifle in one instance.


The operation was launched in the wee hours this morning on a credible input by Kulgam Police along with local Army (9 RR) and CRPF units. When the soldiers were moving towards the suspected spot, they fired indiscriminately on the advancing troops injuring three jawans.

The three army soldiers injured during the encounter were evacuated to the army hospital, while in the retaliatory firing, all three militants were killed.

“The killed (militants) are from Jaish-e-Mohammed and reportedly include a top (militant) commander known to be an IED expert. (He) was responsible for a large number of attacks including many IED attempts against security forces in the recent past,” DGP J&K Dilbagh Singh said/

“He was reportedly able to escape from 3/4 encounters, leaving behind an MO 4 American rifle in one case.”

Earlier when the joint team encircled the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them. The fire was retaliated by the joint team, triggering off an encounter.

Security forces have maintained relentless pressure on the militants and killed 149 militants in J&K till today, while out of these as many as 136 have been killed in Kashmir Valley alone.