Security forces on Sunday eliminated one district commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit while arrested another terrorist and two over ground workers (OGWs) in hours long fierce encounter in Mendhar tehsil of border district Poonch besides recovery of a huge cache of arms and ammunition.
However one Army jawan identified as Lance Naik Sajjan Singh of 37 RR got seriously injured in this gunbattle. The slain ultra has been identified as Abu Umar Khaitab of Pakistan who was active in this area for the past eight months.
Meanwhile, in yet another major breakthrough, a joint column of Rashtriya Rifles of CIF (Uniform) busted a large well stocked terrorist hideout with ammunition and explosives in Gulabgarh area of Mahore tehsil in Reasi district.
According to defence sources, in case of Poonch encounter, the joint search operation by the troops of 37 Rashtriya Rifle, 152 CRPF and police was launched this morning on specific information that two militants were hiding in the house of a retired CRPF hawaldar Abdul Khaliq of Thera Jatain Da in Mendhar tehsil. However on seeing the patrol party, the hiding militants opened fire, which was effectively retaliated by the forces in which one JeM ultra was killed. While the other ultra inside the house continued firing on the troops.
Forces, meanwhile, won over the other ultra identified as Mohammad Zubair, son of CRPF Hawaldar (retired) Abdul Khaliq, and he surrendered. Following intense search operation, the forces recovered the hide out of terrorists in the backyard of the house. Thereafter, Abdul Khaliq and his two sons Saddam Hussain and Mohammad Zubair too were arrested.
Army jawan who got injured in the operation was immediately shifted to 37 RR Battalion Headquarter MI room and then shifted to Army hospital Udhampur for advanced treatment via chopper.
The arms and ammunitions recovered from the hide out included 2 AK-47, 3 AK magazines, 20 rounds of AK, one Chinese pistol, 5 rounds of Chinese pistol, one Chinese grenade, Rs 62, 000 (Indian currency), 2 Nokia mobiles, 2 Nokia batteries, one SIM card (Airtel), one pouch, 31 pencil cells, one wrist watch, 3 fake identity cards of arrested ultra and one comb.