- Wednesday, September 18, 2024
A cordon-and-search operation in Pattan turned into an encounter after terrorists fired on a search party, who then retaliated
By: Shajil Kumar
THREE terrorists were killed on Saturday morning in an overnight encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said.
This comes hours before prime minister Narendra Modi kicks off the poll campaign for the upcoming assembly elections from Doda.
The police said a cordon-and-search operation was launched in Chak Tapper Kreeri in the north Kashmir district’s Pattan area late Friday night.
The operation turned into an encounter after terrorists fired on a search party of the forces, who then retaliated, according to a police official.
The cordon was maintained throughout the night and three terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire in the morning, he said.
The identity and group affiliation of the slain terrorists are being ascertained, he said, adding that the operation was underway.
Two soldiers killed
In a separate incident two army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were killed and an equal number injured in an encounter with terrorists in the higher reaches of Kishtwar district on Friday evening, officials said.
The gunfight broke out when a joint security party of the Army and police, acting on a tip-off, launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Naidgham area in the Chhatroo belt connecting Kishtwar with south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, they added.
The officials said there was an exchange of fire between the search team of the security forces and the terrorists hiding in the Pingnal Dugadda forest area in the upper reaches of Naidgham village located within the Chhatroo police station limits.
Four Army personnel were injured in the gunbattle and two of them – Naib Subedar Vipan Kumar, a JCO, and Sepoy Arvind Singh – later succumbed to their injuries, the officials said, adding that one of the soldiers died of splinter injuries caused by a grenade explosion and another of a bullet injury in the head.
The army also confirmed the killing of the two soldiers. The search party exchanged a heavy volume of fire with the terrorists around 3:30 pm, it added.
Prime Minister’s rally
Prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said terrorism is taking its last breath in Jammu and Kashmir where his government projected a new leadership to counter dynastic politics which has “destroyed this beautiful region”.
Addressing an election rally in the Doda district of Jammu region in support of BJP candidates, PM Modi said, “We and you together will make Jammu and Kashmir a secure and prosperous part of the country.”
This was the first election rally by the prime minister ahead of the first phase of Assembly polls scheduled on September 18.
“After Independence, Jammu and Kashmir became the target of foreign powers and dynastic politics made this beautiful region hollow from within. The political dynasties projected their children and did not let new leadership grow,” the Prime Minister said.
He said his government focused on carving out a young leadership soon after “we came to power at the Centre in 2014.”
“Terrorism is breathing its last in Jammu and Kashmir,” he further said.
Multi-tier security has been deployed across the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar to ensure a peaceful and smooth conduct of the election rally. (PTI)
