Four Policemen Injured in Ongoing Gunfight in Kathua
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Synopsis
On March 27 in Jammu's Kathua district, four policemen, including a senior officer, were injured during an encounter with terrorists. The ongoing operation has involved extensive searches and heightened security measures as officials continue to pursue the militants.
Key Takeaways
- Four policemen injured in gunfight with terrorists.
- Deputy Superintendent of Police Dheeraj Katoch among the injured.
- Security forces have intensified operations in Kathua.
- Local residents are cooperating with authorities in the search.
- Previous incidents of terrorism in the region raise concern.
Jammu, March 27 (NationPress) Four policemen, including a senior officer, have sustained injuries during an ongoing clash between security forces and terrorists in the Juthana area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on Thursday, as reported by officials.
During the fierce exchange of gunfire, Deputy Superintendent of Police Dheeraj Katoch along with three other officers were wounded.
The injured personnel were promptly transported to a hospital for medical attention. There are unconfirmed reports regarding the death of a terrorist during this encounter.
Following extensive searches over the past four days, gunfire resumed on Thursday morning between the security forces and the militants in Kathua.
According to an official, “Contact has been re-established with militants in the forest area of Sufain under the jurisdiction of the Rajbagh police station in Kathua.”
Security forces initiated a search operation in the region during the early hours.
Initial massive searches began in Sanyal village of Hiranagar Tehsil and expanded to nearby areas as the militants had not reacted to any speculative firing by the security forces following the initial clash on Sunday.
A local woman alerted the police on Tuesday, reporting that two men in military uniform had requested water while they were consuming food in the vicinity.
This led to a security cordon being established. Increased security measures were implemented along the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway in the Samba-Kathua segment, with heightened vigilance on border roads, as stated by officials.
The operation spanned multiple areas from Sanyal to Ding Amb and beyond, covering several kilometers. This extensive operation, involving the Army, National Security Guard, Border Security Force, police, Special Operations Group, and Central Reserve Police Force, was equipped with advanced technical and surveillance gear, including helicopters, UAVs, drones, armored vehicles, and sniffer dogs.
Security agencies have interrogated several individuals in various locations and detained three suspects for questioning, according to officials.
During Tuesday’s search operation, security forces uncovered two grenades among other materials. The tracksuits discovered among a substantial cache of ammunition in the Sanyal forests resembled those worn by the four Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terrorists who were killed in the Assar forests and Doda last June and August.
Local residents have joined forces with security personnel, urging others in the vicinity to remain alert and report any suspicious activities.
Numerous village leaders have called upon community members to share information regarding the movement of suspected terrorists.
Directed by Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat, the operation commenced on Sunday evening in the Hiranagar sector following an encounter with terrorists hiding in a nursery.
The police’s Special Operations Group initiated the operation after receiving intelligence about terrorists concealing themselves inside a “dhok” (local enclosure) in Sanyal village, located approximately five kilometers from the International Border with Pakistan, as reported by officials.
The hiding terrorists opened fire on the police team, leading to a gunfight that lasted over half an hour. Reinforcements were swiftly dispatched as a manhunt began to capture the terrorists believed to have infiltrated the area on Saturday, possibly through a ravine or a newly constructed tunnel. The initial exchange of gunfire resulted in no casualties, and the area remained under strict security overnight before security forces re-engaged at dawn, officials noted.
The International Border between India and Pakistan runs through the district, where there have been past attempts by terrorists to infiltrate into Indian territory.
Recently in Kathua, three civilians — Darshan Singh, 40, Yogesh Singh, 32, and Varun Singh, 14 — went missing on March 5 after attending a wedding in Marhoon village.
Their bodies were discovered on March 8 near a waterfall on the edge of a cliff in a forested area following a thorough search involving the Army, police, drones, and sniffer dogs.
“The brutal murder of three relatives by terrorists in the Bani region of Kathua is profoundly tragic and concerning,” stated Union Minister Jitendra Singh in a post on X.
In response to the incident, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan visited Jammu on March 9 and led a high-level security meeting concerning the safety and peace of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra beginning on July 3, as well as the inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).
The Home Secretary emphasized the security situation in the Jammu division while providing detailed directives on the overall security landscape in the Union Territory.
