Neyaz Elahi
Srinagar, Oct 21, KNT: For the first time in a month of this year, army casualty has entered into double digit. At least 10 soldiers have been killed in anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir this month in October.
This year till date 22 soldiers including some officers have been killed in anti-militancy operations. Besides the killing of 22 soldiers, one soldier died in a fratricidal incident in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district this year.
At least 10 soldiers have been killed in October followed by the killing of 4 soldiers respectively in January and July. The has been no casualty of any soldier in May and June while one soldier each were killed in February, March, April and August.
The data available with news agency Kashmir News Trust reveals that among the 22 slain soldiers, 4 were killed in cross border firing in Rajouri’s Sunderbani and Nowshera Sectors. Four soldiers were killed in three separate incidents while foiling infiltration bids in Sundarbani, Thanamandi and Mendhar Poonch. At least 9 soldiers including 2 JCOs have been killed in ongoing Poonch operation. Three soldiers have been killed in Kashmir Valley in different encounters while militants also shot dead a TA soldier Saleem Akhoon in Jablipora Bijbehara area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
A soldier Ravindra was killed in Pakistan shelling in Nowshera Sector of Rajouri. Another soldier Sepoy Laxman was killed in Pakistan shelling in Sunderbani Rajouri. A soldier from 10 JAK Rifles Hawaldar Nirmal Singh was killed in cross border firing in Krishna Ghati Sector of Poonch. Another soldier from 10 JAK Nishant Sharma who was injured in Rajouri cross border firing died at Udhampur Hospital. A soldier Deepak Kumar from Haryana affiliated with 24 Rashtriya Rifles was killed in an IED blast in Subhanpora, Shamsipora area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Three soldiers were injured in the blast.
A soldier Pinku Kumar was killed while two other soldiers were injured in a gunfight at Wangam area in South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
A soldier from 44 RR Hawaldar Kashinath was killed in Hanjin village of Pulwama gunfight. Two soldiers were killed in Sunderbani Sector of Rajouri during a face off with infiltrators.
A soldier K. Vaidaya was killed in a mine explosion in KG Sector along LoC in Mendhar area of Poonch district of Jammu.
A JCO Subedhar Ram Singh was killed in Thanamandi Rajouri encounter. Nine soldiers including 2 JCOs have been killed in the ongoing an anti-militancy operation in Poonch forest.
Yesterday, a soldier Karanveer was killed in Dragad Shopian encounter. Besides, an army soldier was killed in a fratricidal incident in Lassipora Sogam area of Kupwara.
Besides the killing of 22 soldiers, 12 policemen, 3 CRPF personnel and 34 civilians have been killed this year till date. Till date, this year, 131 militants have been neutralized by combined forces in different anti-militancy operations across Jammu and Kashmir. (KNT)
