Search operation also launched after encounter in Rajouri

Three terrorists were likely killed in two anti-militancy operations near the Line of Control in Kupwara district, the police said on Thursday. They added that the Army and the J&K Police had conducted two “successful joint operations” in Kupwara.

A spokesperson said specific inputs about simultaneous infiltration attempts from Karnah sector and Kumkadi in Machil sector were developed on Tuesday. These inputs were shared with the Army units, and joint ambushes of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Army were deployed to the areas concerned.

The police said suspicious movements were detected at Kumkadi around 7.30 pm and in Karnah sector around 9 pm on Wednesday evening. Soon after, firing began in the respective areas that continued till early morning on Thursday.

“During subsequent search this morning, two bodies were sighted at Kumkadi, while one body was sighted at the encounter site in Karnah,” the police said.

The Army said during the operation, suspicious movement was observed amid bad weather following which the troops responded with effective firing. The security forces have also recovered two AK Rifles, one pistol, four hand grenades and other war-like stores in the Machil operation.

According to the J&K Police, further search operations are ongoing and legal formalities are underway in the twin operations. “These successful operations are a result of perfect synergy between the police and Army,” the police added.

“The security agencies are keeping a close vigil and more thrust has been focused on developing human intelligence regarding infiltration attempts from the LoC at Kupwara,” the spokesperson said.

The police said it is the sixth such operation in Kupwara district this year, which have claimed a total 10 terrorists.

Meanwhile, an encounter between terrorists and security forces broke out in Rajouri district of Jammu division late on Wednesday, following which a search operation was launched in the area. A joint team of the Army and the J&K Police launched a cordon and search operation after the agencies received intelligence about the presence of ultras.

In an official statement, the police said a search operation was launched by the security forces in the general area of Kheri Mohra Lathi village and the Danthal area around 9.30 pm on Wednesday. “During the operation, a contact was established with terrorists around 11.45 pm and an exchange of fire took place between the terrorists and security forces near the Kheri Mohra area,” read the statement. Officials further said the security forces also fired a few shots of tracer rounds to illuminate the area.

It has been learnt that at least two to three heavily armed ultras were holed up in the area. Additional units of the Army and the police were rushed to the area to plug all gaps in the forest area.

As per reports, village defence guards (VDGs) had seen two persons in Meira-Nagrota village in Rajouri and fired into the air. They also alerted the security forces about the suspects. The search operation was started after this incident.

Rajouri and Poonch have turned into a hotbed of terrorism during the recent past with many ultras hiding in deep forest areas and caves in the Pir-Panjal range.

Courtesy: The Tribune India: 30th Aug , 2024