On a day when the J&K government collapsed following BJP withdrawing support to it, security forces intensified action against militants and eliminated three mostwanted Jaish men in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday. In the encounter, two security personnel, including a CRPF officer, were injured.

J&K DGP SP Vaid had earlier confirmed the killing of two militants. “In the ongoing encounter at Hyena Tral, 3 important JeM militants trapped, 2 apparently neutralised. Good luck to our boys fighting,” Vaid had tweeted. Later, the third trapped militant was also killed. This is the first time after Union home minister Rajnath Singh called off the unilateral ceasefire three days ago that forces launched an operation against militants. The ceasefire was announced in view of the holy month of Ramzan.

A police officer said that a joint team of Army, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-andsearch operation at Hayuna village of Nazneenpora following specific information about the presence of some militants.

As the joint team fired some warning shots, the militants hiding inside the village opened fire, leading to the encounter, the officer said. During the initial exchange of fire, an Army jawan and a CRPF officer suffered serious bullet wounds and were hospitalized, he added.

Meanwhile, one civilian was injured when militants opened fire upon him in the Srigufara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday afternoon. The injured man has been identified as Javid Ahmad Waza, a vegetable vendor, who has been hospitalized.

Saleem.Pandit@timesgroup.com

Courtesy:Times of India: 20062018