Pulwama encounter updates: Third JeM militant killed; brigadier among eight security personnel injured

Third Jaish militant gunned down, says report

Times Now reported that the security forces have killed third JeM militant in the ongoing encounter.

Brigadier-rank officer injured

According to ANI, 12 Sector Rashtriya Rifles commander of the rank of Brigadier has also been injured in the Pulwama encounter.

Eight officers injured

According to CNN-News18, eight security personnel have been injured in the Pulwama encounter.

#NewsAlert – Eight personnel injured in @adgpi's side. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/Y18Km9pA3q

— News18 (@CNNnews18) February 18, 2019

Three armymen including a Lieutenant colonel injured in fresh gunfight

In the fresh round of firing, an army Lieutenant Colonel and two soldiers were injured and were evacuated to army’s 92 base hospital at Badamibagh in South Kashmir, reports said.

Locals pelt stones on security forces; encounter with militants continue

According to sources, the militants are shifting from the houses to drag on the encounter. Four soldiers including a senior army officer are injured. On the other hand, local youth have converged near the encounter site and are pelting the security forces with stones.

India and Argentina to issue a special declaration on terrorism today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who met the Argentinian president Mauricio Macri in New Delhi during his official visit to India said that both the leaders agreed that terrorism is a huge threat for global peace and stability and that the entire world needs to unite against terrorism and its supporters and take strong actions.

PM Modi: Hesitating from taking actions against terrorists is also kind of encouraging terrorism. Being a part of G20 countries, it's also important that we implement 11 point agenda of Hamburg Leaders Statement. India&Argentina will issue a special declaration on terrorism today https://t.co/wttXLvKW2b

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019

Curfew relaxed briefly in some parts of Jammu 

Deputy Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar told ANI that relaxation was given in curfew between 2 pm to 5 pm at locations in South Jammu. However, no relaxation was given in Digiana, Balicharana and few other areas.

Pakistan Army’s positions on LoC see heightened activity

As per reports, Pakistan Army’s positions across the border on the Line of Control (LoC) are seeing heightened activities as they are on a high operational alert.

JeM militants move to populated areas fearing retaliation from security forces

According to army sources, the army is constantly briefing the defence minister and other senior government functionaries on the developments in Kashmir. Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants have moved from their hideouts to locations near populated areas fearing retaliation from security forces, ANI reported.

Morale of security forces is high, they are getting successful neutralising terrorists, says Rajnath Singh

Reacting to the news of top JeM commander being killed in the Pulwama encounter, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the morale of the security forces is high. “They are being successful in neutralising the terrorists,” he said.

Indian cine asscoiation puts blanket ban on Pakistani artistes

The All India Cine Workers Association on Monday announces a total ban on Pakistani actors and artists working in the film industry. 

All India Cine Workers Association announce a total ban on Pakistani actors and artists working in the film industry. #PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/QpSMUg9r8b

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019

Trade with Pakistan on Poonch-Rawalakot route suspended

India suspended trade activities with Pakistan on the Poonch-Rawalakot route on Monday. Earlier, a bus service connecting Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was also suspended for a day following the Pulwama unrest.

Watch: Police personnel ask Kashmir citizens to leave the area around encounter site

In the video, the policeman is seen asking the people over a microphone to leave the area and return to their homes as “their lives are precious”. 

#WATCH Police in #Pulwama appeals to locals to leave the site of Pulwama encounter. Four 55 Rashtriya Rifles personnel have lost their lives & one injured and two terrorists neutralised in the ongoing operation. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/q2X13OitXX

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019

Security forces start cordon and search operation on Shopian

A cordon and search operation by the security forces has started in Krawora village of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir, ANI reported.

Pakistan High Commissioner in India called back   

Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Monday tweeted that the Pakistani High Commissioner in India has been called back for “consultations”. The Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan said in the tweet that the officer left New Delhi on Monday morning.

We have called back our HIgh Commissioner in India for consultations.
He left New Delhi this morning .

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) February 18, 2019

One AK-47, one pistol recovered from encounter site; search operation still on

One AK-47 rifle and one pistol were recovered from the encounter site. Identification of bodies of the two terrorists killed during the encounter is underway, as names are yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile, the search operation by the security forces continues.

Army chief to brief defence minister on Pulwama encounter

Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat will brief Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the security situation in the Kashmir Valley, including the Pulwama encounter, India Today reported.

Abdul Rashid Ghazi alias Kamran, JeM militant behind 14 Feb attack, killed in encounter

Two bodies of JeM militants have been recovered from the site of the Pinglan encounter. They are in the process of identification. While it is confirmed that the mastermind behind the 14 February attack on CRPF convoy, Abdul Rashid Ghazi (Kamran) is one among those killed. The other body is reportedly of another Jaish commander Hilal.

Internet services snapped in parts of Kashmir Valley

Internet services have been suspended in parts of the Kashmir valley in wake of the encounter between security forces and JeM militants. Internet services are also down in Jammu.

Pulwama attack mastermind, Kamran alias Abdul Rashid Ghazi reportedly killed in Pinglan encounter

The alleged mastermind of the 14 February IED suicide attack on a CRPF convoy by the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Abdul Rashid Ghazi aka Kamran trained the attacker, Adil Ahmed Dar and was also responsible for many other attacks on security forces in recent times. 

The Afghan war veteran is reportedly close to the JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and the aim of Thursday’s attack which killed 40 soldiers, was to avenge the killing of Azhar’s nephews by the Indian armed forces in 2018.

Three armymen injured in fresh round of firing

As fresh round of firing ensued in the ongoing encounter between the security forces and JeM militants who are holed up in Pulwama’s Pinglan area, three armyman were injured in the latest gunfight, reports said.

Two JeM commanders killed in Pulwama encounter

According to News18, following a 10-hour encounter Pulwama’s Pinglan, two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commanders have been killed by the security forces. As per the report, the mastermind of the 14 February suicide attack on the CRPF convoy, Kamran is also among those killed.

Pulwama suicide attack mastermind trapped by security forces: Reports

According to an  India Today report, Kamran, the terrorist who has been cornered by the security forces is reportedly the mastermind of the 14 February Pulwama suicide attack. Two more terrorists are trapped along with Kamaran and the security forces are closing in on them.

A Home Ministry meeting with top officials is underway in Delhi in wake of Pulwama attack

A high-level meeting of Home Ministry officials is underway at the ministry’s office in Delhi in the aftermath of the 14 February Pulwama attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel.  

Delhi: Top officials arrive at Home Ministry for a high level meeting. #PulwamaTerroristAttack pic.twitter.com/Rcz3ZWZnNh

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019

Top Jaish commander linked to Pulwama attack trapped in encounter

A top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander linked to the 14 February Pulwama attack is believed to be trapped in the ongoing encounter with security forces in Pinglan, ANI reported.

Curfew continues in Jammu 

The curfew in Jammu, imposed on 15 February, continued on Monday for the fourth consecutive day with authorities likely to take a decision on its relaxation later. The police said that no untoward incident had occurred anywhere in the city on Sunday night. However, mobile internet services also remained suspended in Jammu, IANS reported.

The curfew was imposed after miscreants torched vehicles and damaged several others carrying number plates of the Kashmir Valley in protest against the 14 February terror attack in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF troopers.

Encounter site is 10 kilometres away from the spot of 14 February attack

According to the police sources, Sunday night’s gunfight site is about 10 kilometres away from the suicide attack spot in Pulwama, IANS reported. The IED blast had on 14 February had killed 40 CRPF personnel and injured five others in the worst ever attack on the armed forces in the Valley in recent times.

Gunfight resumed after three hours, operation still on

Fresh exchange of gunfight resumed after a lull of more than three hours at the encounter site, local reports said. The operation is still underway in the Valley.

Cross-LoC bus service suspended for today

The cross-LoC bus service from Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch to Rawalakot in PoK has been suspended for Monday.

The cross-LoC bus service from Poonch in Jammu & Kashmir to Rawalakot (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) has been suspended for today. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/PLmMvpm7sl

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019

Cordon and search operation underway in Pulwama

As per latest reports, the security forces were conducting a cordon and search operation at the encounter site in Pulwama. Some unconfirmed reports suggested that four militants have fled from the area.

Joint security forces cordon off militant hideout 

According to reports, joint security forces have encircled the area where the militants are suspected to be present. Further details are awaited.

Pakistan violated ceasefire in Poonch on Sunday night

According to ANI, Pakistan violated ceasefire in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday night.

One civilian also killed in gunfight 

The slain soldiers have been identified as Major VS Dhoundiyal, Havaldar Sheo Ram, Sepoy Ajay Kumar and Sepoy Hari Singh. “The critically injured armyman has been identified as Sepoy Gulzar Mohd who has been evacuated to army’s 92 base hospital in Badamibagh, Srinagar for treatment, reports said. A civilian namely, Mushtaq Ahmad was also reportedly killed during the gunfight.

Militants open fired after a joint cordon operation was launched by the armed forces

A joint team of army’s 55 RR, CRPF and the Special Operation Group (SOG) launched a cordon in the wee hours of Monday. As the joint team of forces intensified the searches and fired some warning shots towards the suspected spot, the militants opened fire triggering off a gunfight, according to Global News Service.

Appeals were made to locals to stay indoors as heavy firing took place during the encounter

Heavy firing was going on in the Pinglan region of Pulwama and announcements were being made appealing to villagers to stay indoors, during the encounter, Hindustan Times reported.

Army, police and CRPF had launched cordon and search operation on Sunday night

Post exchange of fire between the security forces and the militants, a search operation was launched to nab the militants. A cordon and search operation has taken place late on Sunday night by the army, J&K police and CRPF personnel after a tip-off that terrorists were hiding in the area. According to unconfirmed reports, a civilian was also killed in the encounter.

Three JeM militants holed up in Pinglan

According to news reports, three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commanders are holed up in the Pinglan area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama where they are involved in an encounter with the Indian Army personnel.

45 security personnel killed in four days in the Valley

The encounter in Pulwama comes days after a JeM suicide bomber killed 42 CRPF troops and injured five in the same South Kashmir district on 14 February, in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistan-based JeM suicide bomber had rammed his vehicle carrying over 100 kilograms of explosives into one of the buses of the CRPF convoy in Pulwama district.

Army Major of 55 Rashtriya Rifles unit among those killed

The four Army personnel killed in action in the Pulwama encounter include a Major rank officer and they belong to the 55 Rashtriya Rifles unit of the Indian Army.