Four policemen lost their lives during a fierce gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Thursday. Two terrorists were also shot dead, but officials believe that three to four more are still hiding in the area.
Security Forces in Action
The encounter has been ongoing for several days. Security teams from the Army, National Security Guard (NSG), Border Security Force (BSF), Police, Special Operations Group (SOG), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been searching the area.
The first exchange of gunfire happened on Sunday. On Tuesday, a local woman told the police that two men dressed in army uniforms had asked her for water while she was eating. This raised suspicions, leading to further action by security forces.
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Deadly Gunfight
On Thursday, the police moved deep into the forest to engage the terrorists in close combat. In the intense battle, two terrorists were killed, but four policemen also lost their lives. Five other security personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, were injured and are receiving medical treatment.
Authorities have not yet been able to recover the bodies of the fallen policemen due to the rough terrain and the presence of more terrorists in the area.
Major Security Operation
Nalin Prabhat, the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, is leading the operation. He confirmed the killing of two terrorists and expressed confidence that the remaining ones would be eliminated soon.
The encounter started in the Sanyal forests on Sunday, where at least five terrorists were trapped. After a gun battle with the police, they managed to escape and moved 20 km away to Juthana. At the first site, security forces found magazines of US-made M4 rifles, showing that the terrorists were using advanced weapons.
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Ongoing Search
On Thursday morning, security forces once again cornered the terrorists in the Juthana forests, leading to another fierce gunfight. The operation is being supported by helicopters, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs. Security agencies have also questioned several locals and arrested three suspects.
On Tuesday, forces recovered two grenades along with other materials. They also found tracksuits that matched those worn by Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terrorists who were killed in operations last year in Doda.
Officials believe that the terrorists entered India on Saturday. Security forces continue their efforts to track down and eliminate the remaining terrorists.
