JeM commander, soldier killed in J&K

Security forces shot dead a Pakistani operational commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) while militants killed a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

Separatist guerrillas gunned down soldier Raj Kumar in Drung village in Badgam district when security forces launched an operation shortly after Sunday midnight, police sources said.

"As the cordon was being tightened, the hidden militants opened fire injuring Raj Kumar who later succumbed to his injuries," an officer said. But Defence Ministry sources said that the JCO died in a gun battle.

In Baramulla district, also in the Kashmir Valley, the JeM commander, codenamed Khalid, got killed when security forces surrounded Ladoora village after receiving information about his likely presence.

When they came close to the house where the Pakistani was hiding, the security personnel were fired upon, triggering a gun battle.

"A Pakistani, codenamed Khalid, who was the operational chief of the JeM, was killed in the encounter," an officer said.

Khalid was on the most wanted list of the security forces and his death is seen as a major blow to militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The JeM is based in Pakistan.

--IANS

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