Army man killed, three others injured in Chadoora gunfight

Srinagar, May 19: (GNS) An army trooper was killed and three others were injured Monday in a fierce encounter in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Official sources told GNS that acting on a tip off, army 53 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and police’s Special Operation Group (SOG) cordoned off Kaisermula in Chadoora area of Budgam district and started search operation. “As the forces zeroed in a residential house, militants present there resorted to indiscriminate firing resulting in injuries to four army personals,” sources said. The injured army men were rushed to Army’s 92 Base hospital in Badami Bagh Cantonment where an injured army identified Sipahi Mir Mushtaq of Chadoora, succumbed to his injuries. The slain belonged to 162 Battalion of Territorial Army and was attached with 53 RR.

The other three injured army men were identified as Rifleman Jogindra, Rifleman Sandeep Kumar and Rifleman Teerath Kumar. Sources said three Laskhkar-e-Toiba militants including a commander were present in the house that belonged to a police constable. Heavy firing continued between holed up militants and government forces for nearly an hour. Army’s Srinagar based spokesman, Lt. Col NN Joshi confirmed to GNS that an army trooper has been killed in the encounter and three others injured. He said that the operation is going on. Additional reinforcements of SOG Srinagar, SOG Budgam and army were sent to the area who intensified search operation to adjacent areas of Kaisarmula like Naibogh and Bogam to track down the militants.