Jammu: Three terrorists and three policemen lost their lives in a prolonged encounter in the dense forests of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Thursday, while seven others, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), sustained injuries, officials confirmed.
The exchange of gunfire began at around 8 am as security forces, led by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, engaged a group of terrorists believed to be members of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). It remains unclear whether these terrorists were the same individuals who had earlier evaded security forces in the Sanyal forest area or another infiltrated group.
As the gunbattle unfolded near Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh, intense firing and explosions were reported. Local youth were seen assisting security personnel in transporting heavy weaponry into the gorge where the terrorists were hiding.
“The first exchange of fire resulted in injuries to six policemen, including the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) leading the operation,” an official said.
During the fierce encounter, three terrorists were neutralised by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, with support from the Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). However, the operation also saw five police personnel, including the DSP, trapped in the area near a rivulet concealed by dense foliage.
“The DSP was successfully evacuated in the evening, but three of his personal security officers were found dead,” an official source disclosed. The fate of another missing policeman remains uncertain, with security forces awaiting clarity on the situation.
The police have yet to issue a formal statement on the casualties, stating that a clearer picture will emerge once the teams reach the location on Friday morning. The retrieval of the terrorists’ bodies was also postponed as security forces halted operations overnight.
Operations are set to resume at daybreak on Friday, as at least two more terrorists are suspected to be trapped in the area. “They are presumed dead, but their bodies have not yet been located despite drone surveillance,” an official said.
The injured DSP and two policemen were admitted to a hospital in Kathua, where their condition is reported to be stable. Two Army personnel also sustained injuries and were transported to a military hospital.
To fortify the security cordon, special Army troops were airdropped in the evening. Drone footage indicated the presence of two terrorist bodies, which are expected to be retrieved once operations resume.
Meanwhile, the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a JeM-affiliated proxy outfit, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the police party.
Security forces had earlier intercepted a group of terrorists in the Hiranagar sector on Sunday evening. Despite an extensive search operation involving the Army, National Security Guard (NSG), Border Security Force (BSF), and CRPF, the terrorists managed to evade capture. It is believed that they later surfaced in Jakhole, about 30 kilometres from the initial encounter site.
A search operation in the aftermath of the Hiranagar encounter led to the recovery of arms and ammunition, including M4 carbine magazines, grenades, a bulletproof jacket, and materials used for making improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Officials suspect the terrorists infiltrated from across the border using a ravine route or an underground tunnel.
Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, have been overseeing the counter-terrorism operation in Kathua over the past four days.