Baramulla, Aug 18, KDC: The 30-hour long encounter in Kreeri in northern Baramulla district ended today with eight dead including three militants, two army men, two CRPF personnel and a police SPO.
The gunbattle had begun on Monday morning after militants attacked a CRPF naka party in Kreeri area of northern Baramulla district in which two CRPF personnel and a police SPO were killed.
Police said that during the attack one militant was injured, whose blood trail was followed by sniffer dogs which helped in tracing down the hiding militants, ensuing a gunfight.
Two militants were killed on Monday including LeT commander of north Kashmir Sajad Ahmad Mir alias Haider and Inayatullah Mir, both of Baramulla district.
The gunfight resumed Tuesday morning in which one militant, a foreigner, identified as Usman, and two army men were killed.
Army spokesman Rajesh Kalia said that two AK 47 rifles and three pistols were recovered from the spot of the encounter.
According to news agency Kashmir Dot Com-(KDC) Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbagh said the killings of Sajad alias Haider, a LeT commander, and Usman, a foreigner were “really big achievement.”
Usman was the last militant to be killed in Baramulla encounter. Police said Haider was the main architect in recent Bandipora killings, was instrumental in recruiting youth into militancy and was involved in attacks on police, civilians & political workers.
According to reports, this is the first time since 2004 that a gunfight had broken out in Kreeri town. The encounter had raged between government forces and militants on Monday morning after militants attacked a naka party at Doolipora- Kreeri junction in the outskirts of the town killing two CRPF men and one SPO of J&K Police.
Since August 14 security forces have suffered seven casualties as two policemen were killed in an attack in Nowgam on August 14. (KDC)
