Rajouri Gunfight: Defence Minister, Army Chief visit Rajouri, review security

Jammu: Day after the army suffered major casualties of five paratroopers in an ongoing combat operation in Kandi Forest of Rajouri Sector, the army Saturday claimed to have killed one militant while defence minister Rajnath Singh along with the army chief Manoj Pandey and J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha visited the forward posts and got feedback from the field commanders.
Officials said one unidentified militant was killed while there was a likelihood of second one getting injured in the ongoing operation at Rajouri. Officials said that the Defence Minister along with army chief General Manoj Pandey landed at Jammu’s technical Airport in a special aircraft, from where he was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Army Commander Northern Command Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi. The Defence Minister, Army Chief, J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha headed towards affected-Rajouri sector, where forces lost five finest troops from army’s 9 Para on Friday while another five of Army’s Rashtriya Rifles were ambushed on an Army truck in the Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in the vicinity on April 20.
Furthermore, the ongoing Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in forces of Rajouri-Poonch following the April 20 Bhata Dhurian ambush by militants has been renamed Operation Trinetra since Friday evening by the security forces.
The defence Minister took stock of the operational preparedness of the Indian Army and the security situation along the border during his visit and also interacted with troops at an Army Base Camp in Rajouri.
According to an official statement, during interaction with soldiers, the defence minister commended their valour and zeal while operating in challenging situations and asserted that the nation feels secure because of the unmatched courage, commitment and constant vigil of the soldiers of the Indian Army in difficult areas.
In around 20 minutes of interaction, the Defence Minister also motivated them to continue working with the same dedication and bravery, stating that the Government and the people of the country are with the Armed Forces always.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid homage to the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service to the nation in Rajouri on Friday and said that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Earlier in the day, the army had killed one militant and said that others were likely injured in ongoing gun battle at Kandi forests of Rajouri, where contact with the militant hiding was established after almost 15 days.
“In the ongoing joint operation in Kandi Forest, Rajouri sector by Indian Army in coordination with JKP & CRPF, at approx 0700 hours the cordon while closing in spotted and pinned down the militants. In the ensuing gunbattle One militant has been killed and One militant has been most likely injured,” PRO Defence Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said.
He further added that so far huge recoveries were made in the operation included Recoveries made 1 AK56, 4 Mags of AK, 56 rounds of AK, 1 x 9mm Pistol with Mag, 3 grenades & 1 ammunition Pouch. Identity of the slain militant is being ascertained.
Army spokesman said that Army Commander, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi at Ground Zero, reviewed the operational situation on the ongoing operations at Kandi in Rajouri where contact was re-established with militants. He was briefed on all aspects of the operations by ground commanders, he added.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Army Commander along with senior officials paid tributes to the brave hearts in a wreath laying ceremony here at Air Force station, Jammu. Five soldiers got martyred including one from Akhnoor area of Jammu and one Major rank officer sustained injuries in an ensuing gunfight on Friday.
A statement from the Army’s Northern Command said its personnel have been conducting “relentless intelligence-based operations to flush out a group of militants involved in an ambush on an Army truck in the Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in Jammu region last month”