J&K: 4 Army personnel, including 2 captains, killed in Rajouri terrorist encounter
Terrorists appeared to be foreign nationals; had been moving around in the area since Sunday; even took shelter in a place of worship, say officials
Four Army personnel, including two captains, were killed, and two others were injured during an encounter between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Wednesday (November 22).
The fierce gunfight was going on in the area with the induction of more troops to neutralize two terrorists trapped there, they said.
Officials said two captains, a havildar and a jawan lost their lives during the encounter. A major and another jawan suffered injuries in the encounter, they said, adding the injured have been shifted to the Army's Command Hospital in Udhampur. The encounter broke out between terrorists and joint forces of the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Bajimaal area of Dharmsal following a cordon-and-search operation, the police said..
A fierce gunfight was going on in the area, as reinforcements were brought in to neutralise two terrorists trapped in the spot, said officials. The injured jawan has been hospitalised.
Foreign nationals
The encounter broke out between terrorists and a joint force of the Army and police in the Bajimaal area of Dharmsal following a cordon-and-search operation, the police said. Local residents said a cordon-and-search operation has been going on in the area since Sunday to track down terrorists operating in the area. “Due to the operation, we were asked to stay home. Our children did not attend the school,” a villager told PTI.
Officials said the two terrorists 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.
Increase in terrorist activities
The border districts of Rajouri and Poonch have recorded increased terrorist incidents over the past year and a half.
On November 17, a terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Guller Behrote area of Rajouri district.
On August 7, another was gunned down as the Army foiled an infiltration attempt from across the border in 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.
(With agency inputs)