Srinagar, May 27 (UNI) In two major successful operations, the security forces have killed nine militants, including six infiltrators and Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, successor of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) top commander Burhan Wani, in the Kashmir Valley. Meanwhile, mobile internet service of all Cellular companies, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was again suspended in the Valley as a precautionary measure to prevent rumours. The success came about 24 hours after alert Army troops gunned down two soldiers of Border Action Team (BAT) of Pakistan Army in Uri sector. Meanwhile, spontaneous strike and protests erupted immediately after the killing of Sabzar in the Valley, where class work in the educational institutions also came to a halt. Several persons were injured in the clashes as security forces fired pellets and burst teargas shells to disperse stone pelting demonstrators in the Valley. Army and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint search operation at village Samu, Tral, in South Kashmir district of Pulwama last night following a tip off about the presence of the militants. However, after a brief encounter militants took shelter in a house. Additional security forces were immediately rushed and entire area and nearby villages were sealed to foil any attempt by the militants to escape. Intermittent firing continued throughout the night, they said, adding that the security forces launched a major offensive with the first light this morning.

Militants hiding there again opened fire, they said, adding that the house reportedly suffered damage in the encounter. They said Sabzar Bhat, a resident of Ratsun, Tral, who replaced Burhan Wani after his death in 2016 encounter, and another militant were killed.The operation was still going on though firing has stopped. Defence Ministry spokesman Rajesh Kalia told UNI that the troops noticed a group of militants sneaking into this side from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in Rampora sector in Uri. However, when challenged and asked to surrender, militants, who had entered this side under the cover of darkness, opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons early this morning. Troops also retaliated and four militants were killed in the encouter, Col Kalia said. He said two more militants were killed later today, adding that the operation was going on when the reports last came in. He said entire forest area near the Line of Control (LoC) has been sealed after reinforcement was rushed from nearby camp. A large number of trained militants are waiting in launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to sneak into this side as snow had already melted on the infiltration routes. However, security forces, guarding the LoC, are already on high alert to foil any infiltration bid. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley also visited the forward areas on LoC in North Kashmir recently where he met field commanders who briefed him about the counter insurgency measures taken to meet any challenge from across the border.

UNI BAS QAB SNU 1551