‘Operation disrupted by fog, to resume today’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 29: A terrorist was gunned down by the security forces in Kog Mandli village of Billawar tehsil in Kathua district, besides the recovery of war like stores from the encounter site.
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Meanwhile, a fresh encounter broke out between the security forces and the terrorists in Manial Gali area of Thannamandi town in Rajouri district after security forces launched a cordon and search operation following inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area.
“Based on specific intelligence about presence of terrorists, a joint search operation was launched by the security forces at Manial Gali under the jurisdiction of Police Station Thannamandi,” said a police official, adding, “A contact has been established with the terrorists and a few rounds have been fired from the either sides.”
In Kathua, a senior police officer said that a terrorist has been neutralised and his body has been retrieved from the encounter site while as two to three terrorists are still hiding in the forested area.
A grenade launcher, some grenades, and other material were also recovered from the possession of the slain terrorist, he said.
Earlier, the Indian Army also claimed that war like stores were recovered from the encounter site in Kathua.
“Operation #OpKUAIG launched by Rising Star Corps & Jammu and Kashmir Police on 28 Sep 2024 in general area Dhanu Parole, Machhedi in Kathua District. One terrorist was killed & warlike stores recovered, operation still in progress,” a defence spokesperson shared on X.
The police officer, however said, the operation has been called off today in view of the dense fog and darkness but it will resume tomorrow to hunt down the other hiding terrorists.
Earlier on Saturday, a Head Constable identified as Bashir Ahmad attained martyrdom and two police officers-Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Sukhbir Singh and ASI Niaz Ahmad-were injured in the gunfight with the hiding terrorists.
They were airlifted to the Military Hospital Satwari, where their condition is stated to be stable.
Earlier, addressing media persons at the encounter site, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Anand Jain said the search operation was launched in the village on Saturday following information about the presence of three to four foreign terrorists in a house.
“The whole area is under tight security cordon and an operation is underway to neutralise the terrorists hiding in the area,” he said.
Asked about the interception of the terrorist group ahead of the third phase of polls on October 1, the police officer said the operations against terrorists will continue.
“We are getting continuous information about terrorists and subsequently conducting operations with an endeavour to neutralise them as soon as possible,” he said.
He said adequate security arrangements have been put in place in all poll-bound areas to ensure that there is no terror-related incident.
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