The encounter erupted in Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh when security personnel engaged the militants following intelligence inputs.
The fierce exchange of gunfire resulted in the deaths of SgCt Tariq Ahmad from Reasi, SgCt Jaswant Singh from Hiranagar, and SgCt Balwinder Singh from Kathua. Among the injured, two are J&K Police personnel, while a soldier from the 1 Special Force (Para) has been airlifted for urgent medical attention. Deputy Superintendent of Police, who sustained injuries, is reported to be in stable condition.
As the gunfight unfolded, security forces, including the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police, the Army, BSF, and CRPF, launched an aggressive offensive against the militants. The encounter site, surrounded by dense foliage and a nearby rivulet, briefly trapped many security personnel, including a Sub-Divisional Police Officer. With intense firing and explosions echoing through the area, reinforcements were rushed in to bolster the operation.
The exchange of gunfire comes days after a group of militants was intercepted by the SOG in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua on Sunday evening. Despite a massive search operation, the militants managed to evade capture, and it is believed that the same group may have been confronted near Jakhole, around 30 kilometers from the initial encounter site. The militants, attempting to move through the forest, came under fire from security forces after their movements were tracked, leading to the fierce battle.
The otherwise quiet village of Suffain in Kathua was rattled by the relentless sound of bullets, grenades, and rocket fire throughout the day, with periodic explosions intensifying the atmosphere. Security forces have been on high alert ever since a group of militants was spotted within a ‘dhok,’ an enclosure in a nursery, in Sanyal village near the International Border on Sunday. A large-scale search operation, involving the police, army, NSG, BSF, and CRPF, deployed advanced surveillance technology, including helicopters, UAVs, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs, to track the infiltrators.
During the search, security forces recovered crucial evidence, including loaded M4 carbine magazines, grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeping bags, tracksuits, and food packets. They also found materials that could have been used to construct improvised explosive devices (IEDs), raising concerns about the militants’ intentions. Preliminary investigations suggest the group infiltrated on Saturday, possibly using a ravine route or a recently constructed tunnel from across the border.
With the operation continuing for the fourth consecutive day, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and Inspector General of Police Bhim Sen Tuti have been monitoring developments closely from Kathua. Security forces remain on high alert as efforts intensify to eliminate any remaining militants and prevent further infiltration. (KDC)
