Kathua encounter: 3 cops killed, 3 terrorists shot useless in day-long gunfight

Three Jammu and Kashmir policemen have been martyred in a day-long encounter with Pakistani terrorists on Thursday in Kathua district, Instances of India reported. In a fierce battle, three terrorists have been additionally shot useless by safety forces.

The conflict started when safety forces looking the Sufain forest got here below hearth from militants hiding within the space.

DSP Dheeraj Katoch, two different policemen, and an Military soldier from 1 PARA (Particular Forces) have been additionally injured. Safety forces have cordoned off the world and deployed reinforcements.

Officers confirmed that the slain policemen included a head constable and two constables. Their our bodies are but to be retrieved because the operation continues to be ongoing. Grenades and rocket hearth prompted a number of explosions in the course of the encounter.

“The gunfire continued all through the day,” an official instructed Instances of India. The official added that the wounded safety personnel have been taken to Kathua and Jammu hospitals, the place they’re reported to be in secure situation.

The attackers are believed to be the identical group that escaped after a short gunfight on Sunday night close to Sanyal village within the Hiranagar sector, near the Pakistan border.

Sufain’s forests, the place the encounter occurred, are about 35km away from Sanyal.

Safety forces had surrounded a distant mountain hut, generally utilized by nomadic herders, the place the terrorists have been hiding. Nevertheless, they managed to flee, main to an enormous manhunt throughout the area.

The search operation entered its fourth day, with the Military, NSG, BSF, CRPF, and J&Ok police utilizing superior surveillance instruments, bulletproof automobiles, UAVs, drones, and sniffer canines.

On Monday, search groups recovered 4 loaded M4 carbine magazines, two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeping baggage, tracksuits, and IED-making supplies.

A serious breakthrough got here the subsequent day when a girl in Dinga Amb village reported seeing two males in fight clothes asking for water. This prompted safety forces to broaden the search.