DIG BSF killed
2 troopers, 2 militants die across Kashmir

Rising Kashmir News
Srinagar, Nov 16: In a major attack, militants Monday blew up a vehicle of border guards in Samba sector, killing DIG BSF and critically injuring two others. Elsewhere in Kashmir, two army men and equal number of militants were killed in separate gunfights in Kupwara and Pulwama districts.
Jammu based BSF spokesman Balakrishna told Rising Kashmir that militants detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near Ballad post in Samba sector in Jammu province on Monday morning when BSF DIG O P Tanwar and his guards were inspecting the post, where suspicious movement of militants had been noticed last night.

 “The BSF official was trying to verify details of the reported infiltration attempt when the powerful explosion took place,” he said.
He said DIG BSF was killed on spot and two others troopers including driver critically injured. “The vehicle was extensively damaged in the explosion,” he said.
The official said that a combing operation in the area has been jointly launched by BSF and army as they feared that militants might have sneaked into this side during the infiltration attempt last night.
The injured troopers identified as Head constable Sham Dogra and Constable Sanjeev Kumar were shifted to Government Medical College, Jammu, for specialized treatment.
2 army men killed
A defence spokesman said army men noticed a group of militants trying to sneak into this side of Kashmir through Kundangali area in Keran sector in border district of Kupwara last night.
“The militants were asked to surrender and lay down weapons. However, they fired from automatic weapons towards the troopers. The fire was returned, triggering an encounter. In the ensuing gunfight two troopers were killed,” he said.
The spokesman said the operation to flush out the militants from the area is going on. “"It is a desperate attempt by militants to infiltrate into our side before the passes get closed with snow,” he said.
Another senior official said that a militant was killed in the gunfight while the operation is going on. “We fear that more than one militant might have sneaked into the Valley. We have launched a combing operation to trace out the militants,” he said.
The official identified the deceased troopers as Sanjay Paul and Sarvan Kumar. “A trooper of Territorial Army Syed Ahmad was also injured during the gunfight and has been hospitalised,” he said.
HM Cdr killed
SSP Pulwama Kifayat Haider said on a tip-off, SOG and army personnel laid a siege around Sangawarni area in Pulwama district during the preceding night. “While the combing operation was going on, militants fired from automatic weapons towards the search party. The fire was returned and in the ensuing fierce gunfight, battalion commander of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed while another militant escaped,” he said.
The slain militant was identified as Abdul Rehman Gorsie alias Aqib-ul-Islam.  “Some arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site,” he added.