A fierce encounter between security forces and terrorists in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir resulted in the deaths of three terrorists and three policemen, while seven others, including a deputy superintendent of police (DySP), sustained injuries. The intense gunfight erupted in a remote forested region near Jakhole village around 8 AM on Thursday and continued throughout the day, officials reported.
The operation was launched as part of an intensified counter-insurgency drive by Jammu and Kashmir Police, targeting a group of suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operatives who recently infiltrated the region. However, officials remain uncertain whether this group had previously escaped a security cordon in the Sanyal forest area or if it was an entirely different batch of militants.
The encounter site witnessed heavy gunfire, grenade explosions, and rocket attacks as the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police, the Army, and the CRPF engaged the terrorists in a high-stakes battle. Reports indicate that local youth played a crucial role in assisting security forces by helping transport heavy weapons and ammunition into the deep gorges of the forest.
The initial exchange of fire resulted in injuries to six policemen, including the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) leading the operation. Tragically, three of his personal security officers (PSOs) were killed in action. As the encounter unfolded, five police personnel, including the DySP, were trapped in the dense forest near a rivulet, heightening concerns about their safety. Fortunately, the DySP was rescued later in the evening, though the fate of another missing policeman remains uncertain.
Authorities have yet to retrieve the bodies of the slain terrorists, as operations were temporarily halted for the night. Drones detected the bodies of at least two militants, and efforts to recover them will resume at first light on Friday. Officials believe two more terrorists are still trapped in the area, and they are likely dead, though their bodies have not yet been located.
Meanwhile, additional forces, including special Army troops, were air-dropped at the encounter site to strengthen the security cordon. Two injured policemen remain hospitalized in Kathua, and their condition is reported to be stable. Additionally, two Army personnel sustained injuries and were shifted to a military hospital for treatment.
The People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a proxy outfit of JeM, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the police party. Intelligence reports suggest the terrorists infiltrated on Saturday, likely using a ravine route or an underground tunnel from across the border. The encounter marks a continuation of heightened tensions in the region, with security agencies remaining on high alert.
The Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, and Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, have been closely monitoring the anti-terror operation in Kathua for the past four days. As the search for the remaining terrorists continues, security forces remain committed to eliminating threats and ensuring the safety of civilians in the region.
