In a grim incident, two Army officers and two jawans lost their lives, while two others sustained injuries during a fierce encounter between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Wednesday.
The intense gun battle persisted in the Bajimaal area of Dharamsala, necessitating the deployment of additional troops to eliminate the two terrorists cornered after a cordon-and-search operation.
The casualties included two captains and two other ranks, with a major and two jawans suffering injuries. The wounded have been swiftly transported to the Army’s Command Hospital in Udhampur for medical attention.
India Army’s White Night ‘X’ posted a statement: “Based on specific intelligence, Joint Operations launched in #Kalakote Area #Gulabgarh forest #Rajouri, District on 19 Nov 23. Contact was established on 22 Nov, and intense firefight ensued. The terrorists have been injured and surrounded, and operations are in progress, amidst acts of valor and sacrifice by our bravehearts in trying to prevent collateral damage to women and children in the highest traditions of #IndianArmy.”
Officials indicated that the number of trapped terrorists in Bajimaal could range from 2 to 5, suspected to be foreign nationals, moving around the area since November 5, 2023.
Meanwhile, local residents informed The Daily Guardian that a cordon-and-search operation had been ongoing in the region since Sunday to track down terrorists. Due to the operation, villagers were instructed to stay indoors, and children refrained from attending school.
The border districts of Rajouri and Poonch have witnessed a surge in terrorist incidents over the past eighteen months. Notably, on November 17, a terrorist was killed in an encounter in the Guller Behrote area of Rajouri.
Similarly, on November 17, the Army and Jammu Kashmir police, in a joint operation, killed one terrorist in the Budhal area of Rajouri