Ultras attack Army post, 5 officers killed

Elsewhere in the Valley as violence levels spiralled in the run-up to the Independence Day, a district commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was killed by the 36 RR, two foreign militants were slain in the Rafiabad area of Baramulla district by the 21 RR. Seven civilians were also killed in the offensive.

After visiting the Chuk Nutus village today, the GOC, Victor Force, Maj Gen R K Kaushal, told mediapersons that an estimated 25militants had opened fire with RPG rocket launchers and UMG from five directions on the company commander8217;s post in village Chak Nutus. 8220;There has been no other incident to compare with last night8217;s firing in my 18-month tenure in the Valley,8221; the GOC said.

Drawing a link with the Kargil intrusion and the infiltration this year which is higher as compared to last year, Maj Gen Kaushal said 8220;there were reports that militants had been given instructions to indulge in sensational attacks in view of the approach of the Independence Days of both India and Pakistan. The militants who have come in this year have a heavier component of foreigners and are more prone to taking risk.8221;

In last night8217;s attack, foreign militants, with the likely assistance of the local militants of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, occupied civilian houses 50-100 yards away from the company commander8217;s post. At half past midnignt, they opened fire from five directions killing two jawans manning the light machine gun post.

According to MajGen Kaushal, the initial onslaught could have numbed the jawans but Capt Mandeep Singh and Naib Subedar N S Rana rallied the men around and retaliated to the fire. In the fight, Capt Mandeep, Naib Subedar Rana, Naik M Pathak, Sepoy K D Prasad and Sepoy Sohan Singh were killed and eight other jawans suffered splinter injuries from the 15-20 RPG rockets fired at them. But since the village was held by a company strength, which can mean up to 80 jawans, the militants were surrounded and five were killed.

8220;Four of them were injured. One more militant was shot later in the day,8221; the GOC said.

Maj Gen Kaushal was at pains to stress that the RR jawans had observed restraint and had not damaged any civilian property in retaliation. He refused to categorise last night8217;s firing as an 8220;attack8221; by the militants and instead termed it firing resorted to from a concealed place.

Three of the foreigners killed and suspected by Maj Gen Kaushal to be leaders were identified by their code names as Abu Tariq, Chattanand Rizwan.

That the firing was not only bold but well-planned is made evident by the fact that the militants left behind numerous booby-traps in the houses, whose owners had fled to neighbouring villages. 8220;Though none of our jawans was injured, booby-traps like placing handgrenades with pins removed under bicycles was resorted to,8221; the GOC said.

Meanwhile, in a major breakthrough, troops of the 36 RR killed the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen8217;s self-styled district commander for Anantnag East, Gul Mohammad Sheikh alias Abu Rafi. He was killed in an encounter today morning at Badasgam in South Kashmir8217;s Anantnag district. Yesterday in the same district, two foreign militants and a local militant were killed along with a jawan in an encounter with the 7 RR.

In an encounter in the Rafiabad area of Baramulla district, two foreign militants were killed by the 21 RR.