The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday informed that an exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces took place in the Dessa area of Doda. The firing has stopped now and a search operation has been launched, news agency ANI reported.
Security forces conducted extensive search operations in the Jammu, Doda, and Reasi districts on Monday, following reports of suspicious movements, officials said, as per news agency PTI. The joint operation by police and CRPF personnel was initiated early on Monday in Lower Gharota, Thathi, and adjoining areas in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu after a villager reported seeing three individuals in combat attire. However, the searches, which lasted more than two hours, did not yield any suspicious findings, officials stated, PTI reported.
In the Koti forest area of Doda district, the police, assisted by the Army, launched a cordon and search operation around 9.30 am after receiving information about the presence of terrorists, as per PTI.
Additionally, security forces conducted searches at Rumbal Nallah Kothian, Pouni, Dera Babbar, Kundle, and Kanjli areas of Reasi district on Monday morning. The Jammu region has recently experienced a surge in terror incidents, particularly in border districts such as Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, and Reasi. Recent attacks on an IAF convoy, a pilgrim bus, and the killing of soldiers in Kathua underscore the evolving threat.
J-K: 3 Terrorists Killed As Army Foils Infiltration Bid Along LoC
In a separate significant operation, the Indian Army successfully eliminated three hardcore foreign terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keran Sector of the Kupwara District. According to officials, acting on credible inputs, multiple ambushes were laid along the anticipated route of infiltration on the night of 13-14 July.
According to ANI, Brigadier NR Kulkarni, Commander of the 268th Infantry Brigade, Keran Sector, elaborated on the encounter: "We had intelligence inputs of terrorists trying to disturb normalcy in the area. On July 12, specific input was given by our intelligence agencies, further corroborated by the J-K Police regarding the mixed group of foreign terrorists likely to infiltrate through the Keran Sector, leveraging dense forest cover and thick undergrowth along the nallahs."
"Accordingly, multiple ambushes were jointly laid by the Army, BSF, and JKP since the night of 13th-14th July on the anticipated routes of infiltration, and we maintained surveillance of the entire area. The terrorists took advantage of the thick foliage and poor visibility to sneak across the LOC and move towards the fence," Brigadier Kulkarni added, as quoted by ANI.
He further mentioned that the terrorists were heavily armed, well-trained, and equipped with sophisticated weaponry. "In the ensuing intense fire-fight, three foreign terrorists were neutralised. A detailed search of the area led to the recovery of large quantities of war-like stores," he said.