A fresh gunfight erupted between security forces and militants in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district late on Monday night.
The clash marks the third such encounter in Kathua over the past nine days.
As per reports, three militants are currently trapped by the forces, who have intensified efforts to neutralise the threat.
The security forces established fresh contact with the militants during the operation, which was launched in the far-flung region.
The encounter began after militants were spotted in the area.
Sources report that the remaining three militants are cornered in the upper reaches of Kathua.
The ongoing operation follows a deadly counter-insurgency campaign, ‘Safiyan,’ in the region.
During the previous operation, four Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel tragically lost their lives.
Two militants were killed during the fierce 48-hour gun battle, and security forces recovered war-like stores from the encounter site.
The operation began on March 23, when locals reported sightings of suspected infiltrators in the Sanyal area. Authorities believe the militants may have crossed the border from Pakistan.
The counter-insurgency efforts have been focused on neutralising these infiltrators, who are thought to be heavily armed.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dheeraj Singh Katoch, along with four other officers, sustained injuries during the operation.
The police team confronted four militants carrying M4 carbine assault rifles in Kathua’s forested area.
The operation, which spanned over two days, resulted in the death of the police personnel and two militants.
Locals had reported seeing a group of five or more armed men, believed to be in combat uniform, patrolling the forest region. The situation remains tense, and security forces are continuing to pursue the militants.
This is a developing story, and further details are awaited as the security forces step up their efforts to bring the ongoing encounter to a close.
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