J&K: Two Terrorists Killed, Five Security Personnel Injured After Encounter In Kathua

The clash took place near Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh, involving approximately five terrorists.

Two terrorists died and five security personnel were injured in a fierce gunfight in a dense forest area of the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. The encounter took place after the security forces launched a massive terror operation to neutralise an infiltrating group of about five militants, officials said on Thursday.

It remains unclear whether the militants were the same individuals who had evaded an earlier cordon in the Sanyal forest or if they were part of a newly infiltrated group. The encounter led to heavy gunfire and explosions, officials stated, news agency PTI reported. 

The clash occurred near Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh, involving approximately five terrorists. During the initial exchange, Special Police Officer Bharat Chalotra sustained facial injuries. He was first treated at a hospital in Kathua before being transferred to Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu, where he was reported to be in stable condition.

Three Security Personnel Trapped At Encounter Site

Security forces, including the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army, the BSF, and the CRPF, launched a coordinated offensive, leading to the elimination of two terrorists.

In addition, officials confirmed that three security personnel, including a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), were allegedly trapped near a rivulet covered by dense foliage at the encounter site. The officials added that a clear picture would surface only after the ongoing operation concluded.

Notably, on Sunday evening, the SOG had intercepted a group of terrorists in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, further underscoring the ongoing security challenges in the region.

The officials added that the terrorists managed to escape the initial cordon despite a massive search operation. They also suspected that the same terrorist was spotted near Jakhole, which is approximately 30 kilometers from the initial encounter point.

Officials reported that the terrorists were navigating through the forest when a police team, led by an SDPO, acted on specific intelligence and moved in, triggering a heavy exchange of gunfire. Additional forces from the police, army, and CRPF were swiftly deployed to the area to support the operation.  

The usually peaceful village of Suffain in Kathua district was rocked by continuous gunfire, grenade blasts, and rocket fire as an intense battle unfolded throughout the day, marked by a series of powerful explosions.

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