Jammu: A three-day long gun battle between security forces and the militants was today called off officially by the police authorities, claiming that all the four holed up militants were eliminated in an encounter which broke out in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on September 11 morning. Although there were different reports poured in from various agencies that the number of militants was five to six and four have been killed and two more may be holed in an under construction mini secretariat at Allapeer locality of Poonch district.
''Three militants were killed on the first day of the gun battle and the fourth one was killed yesterday,'' a senior police official here told UNI. He said the two bodies were recovered from the residential house of one Nazir Amed Mir where the militants barged forcefully and also held an elder couple hostage, who was freed last night by the Para Commandos of Army. ''Two of them were hiding in mini secretariat and one of them sustained bullet injuries but was alive and firing intermittent with the fourth militant,'' he added and said this evening the final assault was launched and both of them were also eliminated. ''There were four militants in number and they have been killed,'' Inspector General of Police (IG) Johny Williams, In-charge Rajouri-Poonch Ranger here told UNI.
Mr Williams said the bodies have been retrieved while four AK rifles have also been recovered from an encounter site and the operation has been called off. Meanwhile, there was no official statement issued till the report filed by police or the army, clearing the number of militants and the operation. Earlier, in the morning intermittent exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces continued from three-storeyed Mini Secretariat building. ''Though the firing stopped early morning from the other end, intermittent fire started later,’’ police said. An elderly couple held hostage by the militants was freed by the Army commandos where a group of militants was also hiding on late evening on the very first day of ongoing encounter. (UNI)
