The
gun battle comes a day after the Centre decided not to extend its
unilateral initiative of a month-long Ramzan ceasefire.
Ramzan
ceasefire : Two militants were killed in a gunbattle with
security forces in Bandipora district of Jammu
and Kashmir on Monday, the Army said.
The
operation comes a day after the Centre announced its decision not to
extend the ceasefire in the state.
An
Army official said that security forces launched an anti-militancy
operation in Bandipora district this morning following information
about presence of militants in the area.
He
said two militants have been killed so far even as the operation
continues to be in progress.
The
identity and group affiliation of the slain militants was not
immediately known.
Security
forces have adopted a proactive approach setting up check barriers at
various places across the valley including the summer capital of the
state.
Police
and other security agencies were carrying out random checks of
vehicles entering the city at various places.
The
intensification in the area domination operations and checking of
vehicles comes in the wake of significant rise in number of attacks
on security forces in the city during the month of Ramzan.
The
attack on the Army camp comes barely two days after 5 terrorists were
gunned down by security forces in a failed infiltration attempt along
the LoC.
Terrorists
in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have clearly rejected the Indian
government's gesture to cease operations in the state during the holy
month of Ramzan, conducting their first strike since the announcement
by attacking an Indian
Army
camp located in the Pulwama district of South Kashmir and killing an
Army jawan and a civilian.
Police
told news agencies that the terrorists attacked the 50 Rashtriya
Rifles' camp on Sunday night at Kakapora in the Pulwama district.
Authorities told news agencies that Army personnel retaliated to the
firing unleashed by the terrorists.
The
attack left a jawan seriously injured. Further, a civilian, who was
identified as Bilal Ahmed, was also caught in the crossfire and left
seriously injured. The duo, who were both rushed to a hospital,
succumbed to their injuries.
In
the wake of the attack, authorities are enforcing prohibitory orders
in parts of Pulwama district.
Apart
from this attack, news agencies reported on Monday that three Army
personnel were injured in a blast, triggered by an improvised
explosive device (IED), that occurred between the Sugan and
Chillipora area of Kashmir's Shopian district. Subsequently, a cordon
and search operation was launched.
Infiltration
bid foiled
The
attack on the Army camp and the IED blast come barely two days after
five terrorists were gunned down on Saturday after security forces
foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in J&K's
Tangdhar sector.
The
infiltration attempt came hours after the Chief of Army Staff,
General Bipin Rawat, called upon Pakistan to stop infiltration to
establish peace along the border.
Ramzan
ceasefire
The
Centre on May 16 announced a ceasefire in J&K, directing the
security forces to halt their operations during Ramzan to help
"peace-loving Muslims" observe the holy month in a peaceful
environment.
The
ceasefire is reminiscent of a similar initiative that was announced
in 2000 by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It came just two
days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit Jammu
to inaugurate development projects and address the sixth convocation
of a University in the state's winter capital.
According
to a statement by the Union Home Ministry, security forces have been
told not to launch operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy
month. However, the statement also said that the forces would reserve
the right to retaliate if attacked or if it was essential to protect
the lives of innocent people.
