SRINAGAR: Two army officers were among the four soldiers who were killed in an encounter underway between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri District on Wednesday.
Three soldiers were also injured in the joint operation being conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces in the border district.
The deceased officers belonged to the 63 Rashtriya Rifles, sources said.
A senior police official confirmed to The New Indian that the operation has been in progress since Wednesday morning with five or six terrorists holed up inside the dense forests. The operation started after terrorists opened fire on a joint search party of the J&K Police and other security forces who launched a cordon and search operation in the area.
FLASH : Sources say that one Army Major of 63 RR has got martyred during the ongoing encounter. One soldier also injured. Further details are awaited.
Reports : @MakhdoomiEmaad https://t.co/BataFMMTRB
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) November 22, 2023
Officials said the two terrorists trapped at the encounter site in Bajimaal appeared to be foreign nationals and had been moving around in the area since Sunday. They even took shelter at a place of worship, they said.
The Pir Panjal forest in Jammu and Kashmir has proved to be extremely difficult for the security forces in the last few years following a series of encounters. The terrorists use the dense forests to hide their positions, taking advantage of the geography.
On November 17, a terrorist was killed in an encounter between terrorists and security forces in the Guller Behrote area of Rajouri district.
On August 7, a terrorist was gunned down as an infiltration attempt from across the border was foiled by the Army in the Degwar area of Poonch district.
Five Army soldiers were killed during an anti-terror operation in the Kesari hills of Rajouri district on May 5.
16 Corps Commander and Rashtriya Rifles’ Romeo Force commander are monitoring the operations closely. The terrorists who are reportedly two to three in number have been injured and surrounded by joint forces. The army is installing lights at the site to assist forces in the encounter. Operation is in progress.