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Updated April 25th, 2018 at 15:14 IST

Here's how the Tral encounter unfolded

In a successful operation carried out by the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, four Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were neutralised on Tuesday.

Reported by: Snehesh Alex Philip
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In a successful operation carried out by the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, four Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were neutralised on Tuesday, including two Pakistanis who were the Kashmir and Tral commanders of the Pakistan-backed terror group.

The encounter is a major setback to the terror network. However, the success came at a cost. Sepoy Ajay Kumar of the 42 RR Battalion of the Indian Army and Constable Lateef Gujri of the Jammu and Kashmir police made the supreme sacrifice fighting the terrorists in the forest area of Tral.

Below are the details of how the operation unfolded:

Somewhere in mid-April – An elite unit of the Indian army gets a tip-off about a possible hideout of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in the forest of Tral, an area which is a hotbed of Pakistan-sponsored terror. The intelligence is shared with concerned operation units of the Indian army.

Till April 23: 42 RR worked on details and gathered more intelligence. Another deep source confirmed a possible ‘hide’, a term used by the army for hideouts, and multiple teams were activated.

The army, along with the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a Search and Destroy Operation (SADO) focusing on multiple locations in the forest.

In the afternoon of April 23, a team came across two jerrycans next to a water body which raised the possibility of the terrorists being nearby.

By evening, the 42 RR led by Commanding Officer Col Neeraj, the 180 Battalion of the CRPF based in Tral and the SOG had literally laid siege to a particular portion of the forest.

April 24, 0700-0730 hours – The ‘hide’ was at a height and hence the 42 RR men and the daredevil SOG unit of the J&K police along with the CRPF started a slow climb. Suddenly, a terrorist identified as Ishfaq Ahmed Khan, Category B terrorist active since March 25, 2017, and a resident of Handoora, emerged and opened fire. He also threw a couple of grenades from the height.

One bullet hit Sepoy Kumar on the head. Even though he was wearing a ‘patka’, the bullet hit him in the centre of his head, an area which is not protected by the ‘Patka’. The SOG constable Gujri was also injured in this first burst of fire. Even though both were evacuated immediately, they succumbed to their injuries.

0730-0830 – The security forces fired back. The heavy firing took place from both sides and finally Ishfaq was shot dead at about 0830.

0830-0930 – The forces continued their climb and were able to zero in on the ‘hide’. The forces encircled the location from three sides. Since it was a forest area and there was also a possibility of terrorists escaping, army choppers were brought into service to keep a hawk eye view of the area and possible movement.

0930-1000 – The forces decide to plant an IED in a bid to destroy the ‘hide’. The IED explodes at about 1000 hours but does not cause much damage to the ‘hide’ which was a cave.

1000-1530 – Intermittent gunfire continued to take place. The forces ensured that there were no more casualties. The helicopters kept a strict vigil. Around 1500 hours, the firing stopped from the terrorists’ side. It was then that the forces decided to step in and later found two more dead bodies. They were later identified as Pakistani terrorists Omar Khalid and Yasir bhai.

1530-1600 – A 42 RR soldier points out to a senior that he has possibly seen another terrorist escaping into one of the trails. Two teams were quickly formed and tasked to carry out the search. Within minutes, the fourth terrorist was spotted and when challenged, he opened fire. In the counterfire, the terrorist, identified as Abid Maqbool Bhat who had joined JeM only on March 19 this year, was shot dead.

1700 hours – The Operation was finally called off after a proper search was carried out.

(The encircled portion is encounter spot)

Sources told Republic that there are still terrorists active in Tral region. It is suspected that there are about 6-7 JeM terrorists still active along with 5 of the Hizbul Mujahideen and 6-7 of the Zakir Musa group.

Col Neeraj, who took over the command of the 42 RR last January, has a high success rate and has managed to neutralize nearly two dozen terrorists so far. 

Read | Major Gaurav Arya Exposes 5 Myths About Kashmir Perpetrated By Pakistan

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Published April 25th, 2018 at 14:20 IST

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