Jammu, Sep 13 : Three militants were killed and eight government forces personnel were injured in a gunfight at Kakriyal forest area of Reasi district in Jammu region on Thursday, officials said.
The operation was launched by the joint team of army’s 4 PARA, SOG and CRPF in Kakriyal forests after three militants escaped after coming out of a truck signaled to stop yesterday, they said.
General Officer Commanding (GOC), Uniform Force Major General Arvind Bhatia confirmed the killing of three militants.
He said the operation has been called off following the killing of three militants.
A police official said that SDPO Nagrota Mohan Lal Sharma, two policemen and five CRPF personnel were wounded in the gunfight. They have been admitted to the Narayana hospital in Katra.
“On 12.09.2018 at about 0805 hours during checking by flying squad at Domail, Police Party signaled a truck bearing No.JK03-1476 which was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar to stop. In the meantime 03 militants who were boarding the said truck opened fire,” a police spokesman said. One person received bullet injury and the militants managed to escape in the forest area of Jhajjar Kotli. Truck was seized and driver and helper were arrested. “One AK-56, loaded magazines, one Chinese Pistol and other incriminating material were recovered from the site”, he said.
To track the militants massive Cordon and Search Operations were launched by Police, CRPF and Army in the villages near Katra. The security components of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine were also alerted. A lookout notice was issued through social and mass media.
Three SSPs of Reasi, Udhampur, Jammu, Additional SP Katra and SDPO Nagrota rushed to the spot after receiving information while DIG Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti commanded the operations alongwith Army and CRPF, IGP Jammu Dr. S.D Singh Jamwal who was at Delhi for a meeting rushed back and joined the operations.
The vast area was kept under tight cordon during the night and with daybreak, contact was established after militants were tracked at Kakrayal, he said. “The exchange of fire continued till 5 pm this evening. In the encounter, all the three militants were neutralized.”
It seems a case of fresh infiltration of yesterday morning from Pakistan most likely from Hiranagar belt of International Border, he said. “These (militants) had come from Pakistan to disturb the peace and cause violence against the people of State.”
Preliminary investigation points that the militants belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammad. “Bodies of all the three (militants) have been recovered. Arms and ammunition have also been recovered from the terrorists.”
DGP J&K Sh Dilbag Singh IPS has complimented the role of the Police, CRPF, Army and the general public of the area who cooperated with the operational parties from yesterday which led to the successful culmination of the operations. (GNS)