Slain in Kathua were part of newly infiltrated group, IEDs, Grenades, US made M4 carbine recovered; Ops on, can’t rule out presence of more militants: ADGP Jain
Bhaderwah, Jammu: Two heavily armed militants and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in last 96 hours whereas five soldiers, a Special Police Officer (SPO), a policeman and a civilian were injured in three different firefights in Jammu’s Kathua, Bhaderwah and Gandoh areas.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Jammu-Samba-Kathua range and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua had a narrow escape in the encounter which lasted for a few hours in Hiranagar area of Kathua. The Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu zone, Anand Jain, while talking to reporters in Jammu said that two militants, who had recently infiltrated, entered a house in Saida Sukhal village in Hiranagar area of Kathua district and asked for the water. “As soon as the information was received, the teams of SHO and SDPO reached the spot. One of the militants was killed in the exchange of fire last night whereas another was killed today,” he said. “One CRPF Jawan and a civilian were injured in the fierce firefight but the RPF jawan succumbed to his injuries whereas the civilian is stable,” he said. “The second militant, armed with an US-made M4 carbine assault rifle, was holed up in the forested region and was eliminated this afternoon. There were rumours that many people were injured and three are dead. But only one civilian was injured, other than this all information regarding hostages being held and death, are rumours,” the ADGP added.
Meanwhile, in Chattergala area on Bhaderwah-Bani road in district Doda militants attacked a joint army and police party in which five soldiers and a SPO were injured who were evacuated to sub-district hospital Bhaderwah and later on shifted to command hospital Udhampur for the treatment.
“#Army and #Police joint Naka has engaged #terrorist in Chattargala area of #Doda . Firefight is going on. More details to follow,” ADGP Jammu said on X.
DIG Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban range, Shridhar Patil told reporters here that a joint army and police post was established at Chattergala which probably have hindered the movement of militants in the forest areas. “Last night some suspicious movement was observed by alert sentry and soldiers which was challenged and militants opened fire on security forces. The fierce firefight continued for half an hour in which five soldiers and a SPO were injured. Militants managed to flee from the area in darkness but the search operations have been initiated to trace and kill them,” he said.
Immediately after the fire fight broke out more forces have been rushed to the area and traffic movement on Bhaderwah-Bani route has been suspended. No vehicle of tourist is being allowed to move towards Chattergala whereas security has been heightened in the entire region.
Meanwhile, Wednesday evening another firefight started in upper reaches of Gandoh area of Doda district in which one policeman was injured. Another search operation was going on in Kalal village near the line of control in Rajouri district after movement of suspicious people in the village.
For the last 96 hours, Jammu region has witnessed four gunfights and attacks in which two militants, one CRPF Jawan and nine civilian were killed in Kathua and Reasi districts whereas several others were injured. Firstly, militants attacked a bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori towards Katra in Pouni area on Sunday evening and on Tuesday encounter started in Hiranagar area followed by firefight with militants in Chattergala area of Bhaderwah and now Gandoh area. Before that in Sanai forests of Surankore area in Poonch district one IAF personnel was killed in first week of May whereas one village defence guard member was killed in Basantgarh area of Udhampur.
At most of the places, militants have managed to flee the area after carrying attacks and only in Hiranagar they have been neutralized.
Two senior police officers, including a deputy inspector general (DIG) and a senior superintendent of police (SSP) had a narrow escape after militant fired a barrage of bullets on their vehicles amid the ongoing anti-militancy operation in Kathua. “However, both the senior officers and other policemen accompanying them escaped unhurt,” they said.
Security forces recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from ongoing encounter site in Kathua village of Jammu. The arms and ammunition recovered include three magazines containing 30 rounds, one magazine containing 24 rounds, 75 rounds in a separate polythene bag, three live grenades. The recovery also includes currency notes of Rs 500 denomination worth 1 lakh, eatables including Pakistan-made chocolates, dry chickpea and stale (bread) chapatis, Pakistan-made medicines and pain killer injections, two packs of A4 battery cells, one handset having antenna and two wires hanging from the handset.
