LeT, Hizb terrorists, CRPF jawan killed in gunbattle near Srinagar

Two terrorists and a Central Reserve Police Force jawan were killed in a gunbattle on the outskirts of Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar city on Wednesday, police said.

The encounter broke out after three motorcycle-borne terrorists opened fire on CRPF personnel posted at a mobile checking unit in Shalteng in Parampora, officials said.

CRPF jawan Ramesh Ranjan died after being injured in the attack, a spokesperson of the paramilitary force said.

Security forces retaliated and killed two terrorists, he said, adding that the third terrorist, who was injured, was captured when he was trying to flee from the spot.

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar, said the gunned-down terrorists have been identified as Zia Ur Rehman of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Khateeb of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

The captured terrorist is Umar Fayyaz of the Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK), he said.

The trio was involved in several acts of militancy and several first information reports were registered against them, Kumar said, adding this incident shows that militant outfits are working in tandem.

The CRPF spokesperson said there was information that terrorists would try to carry out strikes at security installations in Kashmir ahead of the seventh death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Security personnel had been asked to remain on high alert from February 8 to February 14 as Afzal Guru was hanged on February 9 in 2013, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front founder Maqbool Bhat was hanged on February 11 in 1984 and February 14 is the anniversary of the 2019 Pulwama attack, he said.

Briefing the media about the operation, Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh asserted that the three terrorists had 'definitely come with a plan to carry out some action'.

"Their (terrorists') pistols were cocked (ready to fire) as soon as they were flagged down by the CRPF jawan. The second pillion opened fire on CRPF personnel as soon as he got down. In spite of being hit in the head, the jawan retaliated.

"Other personnel also retaliated, resulting in the killing of two terrorists and the capturing the other," Singh said.

He said there were prior inputs that terrorists might carry out attacks and the security grid was prepared to face the challenge.

"This operation was successful due to the alertness of the forces," the DGP added.

CRPF jawan displayed bravery in killing terrorists

Slain CRPF jawan Ramesh Ranjan, 30, played an 'instrumental' role in killing the two terrorists and injuring the third when they were intercepted at a checkpost, officials said.

Ranjan, from the 73rd battalion of the force, suffered a fatal bullet shot on his head during the gunbattle with the terrorists, but kept on fighting 'valiantly' and also retaliated with firing from his rifle. He succumbed to his injuries subsequently.

"Ranjan was instrumental in killing the scooter-riding terrorists when they came near the checkpost at Shalteng in Parampora," a senior official said.

A team of 13 CRPF personnel, led by an assistant sub-inspector, was deployed at the checkpost when the incident took place around noon, he added.

"I bow down to our brave brother who sacrificed his life in the service of the nation. Our thoughts are with his near and dear ones," CRPF Director General (DG) A P Maheshwari said.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the CRPF camp in Srinagar in the evening after which Ranjan's body is expected to be airlifted and brought to Delhi for subsequent transportation to his home town in Bihar.

Nearly a month away from his 31st birthday, Ranjan hailed from Bihar's Arrah.

The third injured terrorist is admitted to a hospital in Srinagar.