Yogesh
Jammu, Apr 12 : Army on Saturday said that three terrorists were killed and a cache of arms and ammunition recovered during an encounter in the Chhatru forest area of Jammu’s Kishtwar district.
Addressing a press conference here Brigadier J.B.S. Rathi, Commander of 5 Sector Assam Rifles, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the operation began on April 9 following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area.
Brigadier Rathi, who was flanked by of J&K Police Deputy Inspector General, Kishtwar-Doda-Ramban Range, Shridhar Patil, said, “The joint operation by the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps and Jammu and Kashmir Police continued despite tough terrain and weather conditions. The search teams killed one terrorist on April 11 and two more on April 12.”
He said arms recovered include one AK rifle and one M4 rifle, along with other items. The identity of the slain terrorists, he said, is being verified.
“Despite difficult weather conditions and the challenges of operating at night, the forces conducted the mission with professionalism and coordination. Civilian safety remained our top priority throughout the operation,” he said, adding that rapid reinforcements, including special forces were deployed.
“With the support of the Indian Air Force, real-time surveillance was carried out using UAVs, drones, and night-vision equipment to prevent any escape by the terrorists,” the officer added.
DIG Shridhar Patil, as per KNO, said that the area remains under a strict security cordon and search operations are continuing.
He said the operation is being conducted in phases to ensure thorough clearance of the area and safety of personnel involved.
The DIG said that the ongoing operation is part of a larger strategy to counter terrorist activity in the region.
He said security forces have increased surveillance and area domination across Kishtwar, Doda, and Udhampur districts. “Technologies such as drones, facial recognition systems, and vehicle scanners are being used to detect movement and prevent infiltration,” the DIG added.
The officers also urged people to remain alert and report any suspicious activity to the security forces.
Meanwhile, the search operation to track down a group of terrorists in the forest area of Udhampur entered its fourth day on Saturday.
A security official said the operation resumed in the Jopher-Marta forests, with personnel from the police, CRPF, and army carrying out the combing operations.
The forces, using sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance, are searching for three suspected terrorists. Night cordons have been put in place to prevent their escape, officials added.