Gunfight Erupts in J&K’s Poonch District as Security Forces Engage Terrorists

A fierce gunfight erupted in a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Sunday morning after security forces initiated a cordon and search operation based on intelligence about terrorist activity in the area.

The encounter began when a joint team of police and Army personnel, acting on a tip-off, launched a search operation in the Pathanateer area near Gursai top in the Mendhar sub-division on Saturday evening. The operation was triggered by reports of terrorists hiding in the village.

During the search, the security forces came under heavy fire from the terrorists, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire that continues intermittently. Reinforcements have been dispatched to support the operation.

Reports suggest that a high-ranking terrorist commander is among the three militants believed to be trapped in the village. This encounter follows a recent operation in Baramulla district, where three terrorists were killed in an overnight clash with security forces.

The operation in Poonch comes just days before the first phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Inspector General of Police for the Kashmir Range, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, visited the site and confirmed that the operation was launched based on specific intelligence about militant presence. He assured that the forces are on high alert to ensure that the terrorists do not disrupt the electoral process. The bodies of the terrorists have been located near the encounter site, and the operation is ongoing.