Won’t rest till terror groups appropriately dealt with: DGP
*Massive operation on to track down remaining terrorists
*Group spotted at Safiyan was same which surfaced at Hiranagar
*Ultras were heading towards Ghati heights to reach Billawar
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 28: With missing Head Constable, Incharge Police Post Safiyan also found dead, the toll of police personnel martyred in fierce gun battle with terrorists at village Safiyan Jakhole in Rajbagh area of Kathua district has reached four and all bodies were recovered this afternoon along with their weapons while bodies of two slain terrorists were visible through camera footage obtained from the drone.
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Security forces intensified manhunt to eliminate two remaining terrorists and are advancing after clearing the area to ensure that the ultras don’t manage to escape. Heavy caliber weapons and explosives are being used by Army, NSG, JKP, SOG and paramilitary forces to clear the area, the officials said.
Bodies of three martyrs including Tariq Ahmed of Reasi, Jaswant Singh of Londi, Hiranagar and Balwinder Singh Chib of Kana Chak, Kathua were retrieved this afternoon while the body of Head Constable Jagbir Singh, Incharge Police Post Safiyan, a resident of Khour, Akhnoor was recovered in the evening.
All of them had bullet injuries and died of excessive bleeding due to delay in their evacuation. All four had reportedly died while fighting bravely with the terrorists in first direct contact with terrorists at Safiyan Jakhole in Ghati heights of Rajbagh in Kathua district yesterday morning. SDPO Border Dheeraj Katoch and one soldier of Army’s Para were among security personnel injured in the gun battle.
Bodies of the martyrs were sent to their houses with full honours after post-mortem at the Government Medical College (GMC) Kathua followed by wreath laying ceremony at the District Police Lines (DPL). Click here to watch video
Weapons of all four police personnel have been recovered from the spot, the officials said.
Meanwhile, in a stern warning to Pakistan-based terror groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat said his force will not sleep or take rest till such groups are appropriately dealt to frustrate their nefarious designs.
Talking to reporters after leading the wreath laying ceremony of three police personnel who laid down their lives fighting Pakistani terrorists at District Police Lines in Kathua, the DGP said their loss will not be compensated by words but deeds.
He said four police personnel sacrificed their lives and two Pakistani terrorists were killed in the ongoing operation in remote Ghati Juthana forest area of Rajbagh and it was the same group of terrorists who were intercepted by police in Saniyal village near International Border in Hiranagar sector on March 23 evening.
“Neither the intention of J&K Police was weakened nor is our goal far away from us. Our goal is clear and so the intention. There is no lack of passion as J&K Police is the only force in the country which is writing its bravery and sacrifice in golden words.
“We will not sleep or take rest as long as our impure neighbour (Pakistan) and its (terror) organizations are not dealt with appropriately. This war is going on and will continue. There will be no dilution in our intention,” the police chief said.
Confirming that the terrorists holed up in Rajbagh are the same group of terrorists who were earlier intercepted in Hiranagar sector, the DGP said a small team of police comprising of five members confronted the terrorists hiding in a nursery after getting information from the locals at Saniyal village on March 23.
“The Pakistani terrorists fled the scene leaving behind four carbine magazines, three Improvised Explosive Devices, two grenades and other material. Reinforcements from Police, Army, CRPF and BSF rushed to the scene and a massive search was launched which continued for four days,” he said.
After getting a fresh input, a search operation was launched in the Panjtirthi area on Wednesday evening and there was a fire-fight between the terrorists and one of the police parties on Thursday morning, he said.
Prabhat said two Pakistani terrorists were eliminated in the initial gunfight but when the police party was climbing the hill, the terrorists taking advantage of their dominating position martyred four of brave jawans.
“You have seen the topography of the area, the caves, boulders and the dense forest. Our priority was to retrieve the bodies of our martyrs to perform their last rites and it was successfully done. The operation will continue and we are hopeful of completing it by tomorrow (Saturday) evening,” he said.
Sources said five terrorists spotted at Safiyan Jakhole were the same group which first surfaced at Sanyal and it was heading towards riverine to take Dhar road forests on their way to Billawar, Udhampur or Kishtwar areas. The terrorists had food, dry fruits and energy drinks with them.
Bodies of two slain terrorists, both believed to be Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) activists of Pakistan, haven’t been retrieved so far. Sources said bodies of the terrorists in combat dresses are clearly visible in video footage obtained from the drone.
Security forces including Army, NSG, Police, Special Operations Group (SOG) and paramilitary forces are advancing towards the Ghati heights where the terrorists were killed after security forces fired rocket launchers by clearing the area as there were reports that there could be at least three more terrorists hiding there.
People who sounded police yesterday morning had informed about movement of five heavily-armed terrorists heading towards Ghati heights which would have eventually taken them to Billawar forests and then to Udhampur and Kishtwar districts.
Condition of all injured security personnel is stated to be stable.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders including Ravinder Raina, former UT chief and Rajiv Jasrotia, MLA Jasrota (Kathua) were gheroed by the people at GMC Kathua on the issue of martyrdom of the cops. Jasrotia had been monitoring the operation for the last two days and asking people to extend all help to security forces engaged in the gun battle.
Sources said search operations will continue as three militants could still be hiding in Ghati forests or may be advancing towards surrounding forests.
Earlier, the search teams discovered four loaded magazines of M4 carbine, two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeping bags, tracksuits, food packets, and materials for assembling improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near the Hiranagar encounter site.
The terrorists were moving through the forest area towards the Billawar side when a police party headed by the SDPO moved in after getting specific information but came under heavy firing, resulting in the day-long gunfight yesterday. While the DySP Dheeraj Katoch survived with minor injuries, his three PSOs and Incharge Police Post Safiyan were martyred.
Reinforcements from police, Army, and CRPF were immediately deployed to the area, while the Special Forces of the Army were also airdropped to neutralize the terrorists.
Police believe the terrorists infiltrated on Saturday, possibly via a ravine route or a newly constructed tunnel from across the border.
The People’s Anti-Fascist Front, a shadow outfit of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), has claimed involvement in the encounter.
Army’s rising Star Corps, whose troops are involved in the operation, lauded the police personnel involved in the operation.
“Rising Star Corps salutes the valour and indomitable spirit of the brave (J-K) Police personnel who made the supreme sacrifice fighting valiantly during the ongoing OP (operation) Safiyan in Kathua. Their courage and dedication will always be remembered,” the Army said in a post on X.
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