Two Terrorists Neutralized, Five Security Personnel Injured in Encounter in Kathua
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Synopsis
In an intense encounter in J&K's Kathua district, two terrorists were killed and five security personnel suffered injuries. Ongoing operations continue to identify the terrorists' affiliations, while local residents actively assist in the search efforts.
Key Takeaways
- Two terrorists killed in Kathua encounter.
- Five security personnel injured, two critically.
- Search operations ongoing in Juthana area.
- Local community urged to report suspicious activity.
- Enhanced security along Jammu-Pathankot Highway.
Jammu, March 27 (NationPress) In an encounter on Thursday, two terrorists were neutralized while five security personnel sustained injuries in J&K's Kathua district, according to official reports.
Sources indicated that Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dheeraj Katoch and four other officers were injured during the gunfight in the Juthana area of Kathua.
The injured personnel were transported to a hospital for medical attention, with the condition of two reported as critical.
The identities and affiliations of the deceased terrorists are currently under investigation, as operations against them continue in the area, sources confirmed.
After extensive searches over the past few days, gunfire erupted again between the security forces and terrorists in Kathua earlier in the morning.
“Contact has been re-established with militants in the forest area of Juthana under the Rajbagh police station in Kathua,” an official stated.
Security forces initiated a search operation in the early hours, initially focusing on Sanyal village in Hiranagar Tehsil and expanding to surrounding areas, as the terrorists had not responded to previous firing from the forces since the initial clash on Sunday.
A local resident reported to the police on Tuesday that two individuals in military uniforms requested water while they were dining in the vicinity.
This led to a cordon of the area, and security was enhanced along the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway in the Samba-Kathua section, with increased surveillance on border roads, officials noted.
Search efforts were conducted across multiple locations from Sanyal to Ding Amb, covering extensive ground.
The operation, which included the Army, National Security Guard, Border Security Force, police, Special Operations Group, and Central Reserve Police Force, was supported by helicopters, UAVs, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs.
Security agencies have interrogated several individuals in various locations, leading to the detention of three suspects for questioning, officials mentioned.
During the search on Tuesday, two grenades along with other materials were recovered by security forces.
Tracksuits found among a significant cache of ammunition and materials in the Sanyal forests were similar to those worn by the four Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terrorists killed in Assar forests and Doda last June and August.
Residents in the area have actively participated in the security operation and have urged individuals in other localities to remain alert and report any suspicious activity.
Several village leaders have encouraged community members to provide information about terrorist movements in their neighborhoods.
The operation, spearheaded by Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat, was initiated on Sunday evening in the Hiranagar sector following a confrontation between security forces and terrorists holed up in a nursery.
The Special Operations Group of J&K police began the operation after receiving intelligence about terrorists hiding in a dhok (local enclosure) in Sanyal village, located about five kilometers from the International Border with Pakistan, officials confirmed.
The concealed terrorists opened fire on the police team, leading to a gunfight that lasted over thirty minutes. Reinforcements were promptly dispatched as a manhunt commenced for the terrorists believed to have infiltrated via a ravine route or a newly constructed tunnel.
Fortunately, the initial firing did not result in any casualties, and the area was kept under strict security overnight before forces moved in again at dawn, officials reported.
The International Border between India and Pakistan runs through this district, where there have been previous attempts by terrorists to cross into India.
Recently in Kathua, three civilians—Darshan Singh (40), Yogesh Singh (32), and Varun Singh (14)—went missing on March 5 while returning from a wedding in Marhoon village. Their bodies were discovered on March 8 near a waterfall on the edge of an escarpment in a wooded area after an extensive search involving the Army, police, drones, and sniffer dogs.
“The brutal killing of three relatives by terrorists in the Bani area of Kathua is profoundly tragic and concerning,” stated Union Minister Jitendra Singh in a post on X.
Following this incident, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan arrived in Jammu on March 9 to chair a high-level security meeting concerning the safety and security of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra set to begin on July 3, as well as the inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 19.
The Home Secretary emphasized the security situation in the Jammu division, providing detailed guidance on the overall security landscape in the Union Territory.
