Pulwama: An Indian Army Colonel and two jawans were killed during an encounter with Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in Tral Area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.
Colonel Munindra Nath Rai suffered serious injuries in the encounter following which he was shifted to 92 Base Camp Hospital at the Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar where he succumbed to the injuries.
Jammu and Kashmir Police Head Constable Sanjeev Singh was also martyred in the encounter.
The encounter broke out between the terrorists and an Army unit, as well as local police, after the latter launched a search operation in Mindora village of Tral.
The search operation was launched after security forces got a tip off that a local Hizbul terrorist along with another accomplice had come home.
The two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, identified as Adil Khan and Shiraz Dar, have also been gunned down in the encounter, police said. Security forces also recovered some arms and ammunition from the site of encounter.
Colonel Rai of 9 Gorkha Rifles (42 Rashtriya Rifles), on Monday, was awarded the Yudh Seva medal on the 66th Republic Day.
Following the incident, National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah tweeted: “My heartfelt condolences to the families & colleagues of Col Rai & the 2 jawans of the Army as also of Constable Singh of JK Police.”
“Martyred in the line of duty in Tral today. A grim reminder of the costly sacrifices militancy in J&K continues to demand of our men RIP,” he added.