J&K: Army Foils Major Infiltration Bid In Battal, 1 Jawan Injured

An exchange of fire took place as the Army troops foiled an infiltration bid in J&K's Battal sector.

An exchange of fire took place as the Army troops foiled an infiltration bid in J&K's Battal sector. Image used for representational purposes only.

Source : PTI

J&K News: One Army jawan sustained injuries following an exchange of fire on Tuesday as troops foiled an infiltration attempt by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Battal sector.

Giving details of the incident, the military’s White Knight Corps said that the exchange of fire took place during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, and counter-operations began following the incident.

Op BATTAL Alert troops foiled an #infiltration bid by effectively engaging infiltrating #terrorists with effective fire in the #Battal Sector at 0300h. During the exchange of heavy fire, one braveheart has been injured. Operations are continuing,” White Knight Corps said in a post on X.  

Op BATTAL

Alert troops foiled an #infiltration bid by effectively engaging infiltrating #terrorists with effective fire in the #Battal Sector at 0300h.

During the exchange of heavy fire, one braveheart has been injured.
Operations are continuing.@adgpi@NorthernComd_IA

— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) July 23, 2024

Meanwhile, on Monday, a soldier and a civilian were injured as security forces foiled twin terror attacks on an Army post and the house of a Village Defence Group (VDG) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, news agency PTI reported, citing officials.

A cordon and search operation was launched to trace the terrorists, according to officials. The area was cordoned off by a joint team of the Army, police, Central Reserve Police Force, and VDGs after intermittent exchanges of fire with terrorists throughout the day, they said.

"Terrorists attacked the house of a VDG member at Gunda, Rajouri, at 0310 hours. An adjacent Army column reacted swiftly, leading to a firefight," the Army's White Knight Corps said on X.

Operations are ongoing, it said. The Army acted preemptively based on intelligence, anticipating a threat to a village defence guard in a remote area of Rajouri-Reasi, it said. "Tactical teams swiftly intervened, ensuring the safety of the VDG member and his family," it said.

According to officials, the terrorists first opened fire on the house of the VDG member in the Gundha area of Khawas Tehsil. As the security personnel returned fire, the terrorists lobbed grenades, as reported by PTI. Around 4 AM, the terrorists attacked a newly established Army post in the area, resulting in a fresh exchange of fire, the officials said.

The attack was successfully thwarted by the army troops, and a codon and search operation was launched in the area, which led to another firefight, they said. "A major terrorist attack on an Army picket in a remote village of Rajouri has been thwarted. Firing is ongoing, and operations are in progress," an Army spokesperson said, as quoted by PTI.

In the attacks, a jawan and a civilian, a relative of the VDG member, sustained minor injuries and were rushed to the hospital, the officials said. According to reports, a terrorist had been killed, but the body was yet to be recovered. The twin attacks triggered panic among the locals. "We are terrified after this attack, which was the first in several years in this peaceful area. The firing began around 3 am," said a villager, as quoted by PTI.

Another villager said it was time to rearm the VDGs with modern weapons and communication technology to take on the terrorists operating in the hills of Jammu. This was the 14th terror attack in the Jammu region. Ten security personnel and nine pilgrims have been killed and 58 people injured in these attacks. Five terrorists were neutralised by the security forces.