3 Terrorists Killed, 4 Policemen Martyred in J&K’s Kathua Encounter

Kathua: Three terrorists were killed, and four policemen were martyred during a day-long encounter in Jammu’s Kathua district on Thursday.

According to sources, the three terrorists affiliated with Pakistan -based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed have been neutralized.

The bodies of the slain terrorists and security personnel are yet to be retrieved from the encounter site due to the ongoing exchange of fire.

Senior officials, including Inspector General (IG) of Jammu Zone Police Bhim Sen Tuti and IG CRPF R. Gopala Krishna Rao, have reached the operation site to oversee the counter-terror efforts.

According to reports, seven other policemen, including a deputy superintendent of police, were wounded during the gunfire, which was led by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and assisted by the Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The encounter erupted when terrorists were spotted hiding in a densely forested area in Juthana around 8 AM on Thursday. The exchange occurred near Jakhole village, approximately 30 km from the Hiranagar sector.
The Indian Army confirmed the death of the policemen, saluting their valor on Friday morning via a post on X:

“RisingStarCorps salutes the valor & indomitable spirit of the brave @JmuKmrPolice personnel who made the supreme sacrifice fighting valiantly during the ongoing OP SAFIYAN in #Kathua. Their courage and dedication will always be remembered.”

PTI reported that a group of terrorists was intercepted on Sunday evening within a ‘dhok,’ a local term for an enclosure in a nursery, in Sanyal village near the International Border with Pakistan in the Hiranagar sector.

It is believed that the terrorists involved in Thursday’s encounter are the same group that escaped after Sunday’s gunfight in Hiranagar.

Security forces have launched a massive search operation in the forested areas of Reasi district following reports of suspicious movement. According to news agency PTI, the People’s Anti-Fascist Front, a proxy outfit of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), claimed responsibility for the encounter.

Expressing condolences, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated, “Pride and grief intertwine as we remember Balwinder Singh Chib, Jaswant Singh, and Tariq Ahmed, who laid down their lives during an anti-terror operation in Kathua, Jammu & Kashmir. My heartfelt condolences to their families. Their sacrifice in the line of duty will always be remembered. May the departed souls rest in peace, and heartfelt prayers for the swift recovery of those injured.”

The office of the Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor also expressed condolences on the deaths of the martyrs.