Two jawans of army were killed in action and a terrorist was gunned down in an anti-terrorist operation in Shopian district of South Kashmir. The two jawans who laid down their lives while fighting the terrorists, are from 1 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and have been identified as Santosh Yadav and Romit Chohan.
Preliminary reports identified the dead terrorist as Qayoom Dar of Kakpora in Pulwama district. However, official confirmation of his identity is is still awaited
The encounter between terrorist and security forces broke out on Saturday in Zainpora area of Shopian. J&K Police, 1 RR and Central Reserve Police Forces have cordoned off the area to flush out terrorists hiding in the area.
“#ShopianEncounterUpdate: 01 #terrorist killed. Search going on. Further details shall follow. Kashmir Zone Police tweeted on Saturday morning.
#Encounter had started at Chermarg, Zainapora area of #Shopian. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) February 19, 2022
Police sources told The New Indian that jawans were injured in initial exchange of fire with terrorist. “The terrorist who was hiding behind, opened volley of fire on joint party of Police, Army and CRPF personnel ,” sources said adding that two jawans were critically injured in the firing. The injured jawans were evacuated in a chopper to 92 Base Hospital of Army. However they succumbed to their injuries.
Pertinently, official figures reveal that about 153 terrorists including 73 foreign mercenaries were active in Kashmir on December 31,2021. This is the first time that the number of active terrorists in the Valley has come down to less than 200 since the terrorism erupted in Kashmir.