In the Rajouri district of Jammu division, joint troops of the Army, paramilitary, and J&K police are conducting an anti-terrorism operation that resulted in the deaths of two Captains and at least two soldiers and the wounding of a Major, according to government sources. They disclosed that a terrorist had been shot dead and that his companions had been encircled. Security personnel were keeping a tight cordon in place to block any means of escape.
The troops were fired upon by terrorists during a search in the thickly forested Kalakote area, resulting in casualties. The Army’s White Knight Corps spokesperson acknowledged the deaths, saying they were killed while “trying to prevent collateral damage to women and children”.
Official sources confirmed the deaths of two Captains (one each from 63 Rashtriya Rifles and 9 Para (Special Forces)) and a Havildar (from 9 Para). The sources said there had been a death among the soldiers, but they could not elaborate. The place has seen sporadic shooting, therefore the bodies have not been recovered.
A Major from 9 Para (SF), who took bullets in his chest and an arm, has been evacuated to the military hospital in Udhampur and is reported to be stable. Police said two terrorists are believed to be wounded and surrounded, and security reinforcements have been rushed to the area. “Acting on specific inputs, a cordon-and-search operation was launched in Dharmsal-Kalakote of Rajouri district. The hiding terrorists fired at the search party, leading to retaliatory shooting,” an officer said.
This marks the second shootout between security forces and terrorists in less than a week in Rajouri district. A terrorist was killed, and a large cache of arms and ammunition was seized on November 17 during a fierce gunfight in the district’s Budhal area.