Soldier killed, another hurt in J&K encounter
A soldier was killed and another injured during a fierce encounter with Pakistan-trained terrorists in a forest in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, sources said.
The encounter started after the police received a tip-off regarding the presence of terrorists in the Singhpura area of the Chatroo region in the district.
In a statement, Nagrota-based Army’s White Knight Corps said, “During the ongoing operation, a fierce gunfight is continuing. One of our bravehearts sustained grievous injuries in the exchange of fire and has succumbed despite the best medical efforts. The operation is in progress.”
The sources said the encounter was going on with three or four highly trained terrorists who were using AK-series rifles. They said the precision with which the terrorists targeted the security forces during the initial phase of the encounter, it was possible that they were also using US-made M-4 carbines.
The sources said the dense forest in the area was giving a natural cover to the terrorists who were hiding on the higher side of the mountain. They said the terrorists opened fire on the security forces when they reached the area. The injured soldier had been shifted to a hospital in Udhampur.
In an earlier statement, the White Knight Corps said contact was established with terrorists during a joint operation with the police on Thursday morning. “Additional troops have been inducted, and operations are ongoing to neutralise the terrorists,” it said.
The Special Operations Group of the J&K Police along with the Army was involved in the encounter.
Helicopters were also being used to track the terrorists in the dense forest, the sources said, adding that the area posed a significant tactical challenge due to its topography.
Interestingly, the security forces had eliminated a terrorist in the Chatroo region on April 11 during an intense gunfight while others were able to escape. It is believed that the terrorists in Thursday’s encounter might be the same group.
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