J&K: 2 terrorists, CRPF jawan killed in Kathua

6 PERSONNEL INJURED IN DODA ENCOUNTER

Security operations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district resulted in the elimination of two terrorists after a prolonged engagement that lasted over 15 hours, during which a CRPF personnel was also killed. The operation commenced on Tuesday night in Saida Sukhal village, where the terrorists were initially spotted.

In a separate incident in Doda district, an attack on a joint check post by terrorists left five Rashtriya Rifles soldiers and a Special Police Officer wounded. This incident led to the suspension of traffic on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road as a search operation was initiated.

These events followed a recent terrorist attack on a bus of pilgrims, resulting in nine fatalities and numerous injuries. In response, police have announced a Rs 20 lakh reward for information leading to the apprehension of the perpetrators and have circulated a sketch of one suspect.

Officials suggest that these incidents are part of a pattern of increased terrorist activity in the region, attributed to efforts by Pakistan to disrupt the local peace.

In Kathua’s Saida Sukhal village near the International Border — around 60 kms from here — the second holed-up terrorist was killed on Wednesday noon in an intense gunfight after being cornered by the joint security parties of the police, Army and CRPF, officials said.

The terrorist tried to break the cordon by firing indiscriminately at the security forces around 3 am. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan Kabir Dass, a resident of Madhya Pradesh, was critically injured in the firing and later succumbed to injuries in a hospital, they said.

During the operation, official vehicles of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua range, Sunil Gupta and Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, Anayat Ali Choudhary were hit by several bullets but the officers escaped unhurt.

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