3 Terrorists Killed, Civilian Hostage Rescued in J&K’s Ramban

A top Hizbul terrorist, wanted in connection with a senior BJP leader’s murder, was among the 3 terrorists killed.

Army personnel move towards the house where militants were hiding in February 2019. Image used for representation.

(Photo: PTI)

A top Hizbul Mujahideen 'commander', wanted in connection with the assassination of a senior BJP leader and an RSS functionary, was killed along with two other terrorists in a nine-hour operation in which a jawan lost his life in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, 28 September, officials said.

The terrorists, identified as Osama and his associates Zahid and Farooq, were gunned down after they tried to escape from a house, where they had barged in while being chased by security forces following a brief exchange of fire in Batote area along Jammu-Kishtwar national highway early on Saturday morning, they said, adding a house-owner was also rescued after the encounter ended.

Most Wanted Hizbul Militant Among Terrorists Killed

(Photo: ANI)

(Photo: ANI)

Osama was the brain behind several sensational incidents including the killings of senior BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar on 1 November, 2018 and RSS functionary Chanderkant Sharma and his PSO on April 9, officials said.

He was carrying a reward of several lakhs of rupees and was also wanted in three weapon snatching incidents in Kishtwar town, which was declared terrorist-free over a decade ago.

As the pressure on terrorists increased in Kishtwar, Osama and the other two terrorists tried to escape from the district and had reportedly spent the night at an abandoned temporary shelter on the highway before being confronted by security forces, the officials said.

Following a brief encounter at Dharmund village of Batote on Saturday morning, the fleeing terrorists intruded into a residential house with some shops on the ground floor, the officials said adding the house was immediately cordoned off by search parties comprising Army, police and CRPF and the encounter re-started at around 1 pm.

Civilian Trapped Inside Home Was Rescued

The elderly house owner, Vijay Kumar, was “trapped” in the house while rest of his family managed to come out and were subsequently evacuated to safety, the officials said.

Kumar, who locals claimed was a BJP worker, was rescued after the encounter ended.

Video Shows Cops Asking Terrorists to Surrender

Despite repeated attempts to make the terrorists surrender, the terrorists tried to escape from the house while firing indiscriminately on the forces and were eliminated in the encounter, they said.

"Repeated attempts were made to make the terrorists surrender but they tried to buy time so that they can make an attempt to flee the house by taking advantage of darkness later in the day," an official said adding when the cordon was being tightened, the terrorists fired indiscriminately.

Later, they came out of the house while firing indiscriminately on the forces but were eliminated in the encounter.

Soldier Lost Life in Ramban Encounter

The deceased soldier was identified as Naik Rajinder Singh from Jaisalmer. Two policemen were injured in the gunbattle, officials said, adding a huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the possession of the militant.

(With PTI inputs)