Jammu- An encounter broke out between militants and security forces during a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s border district of Poonch on Monday, Army said.
The encounter started shortly after army troops and the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint search operation at Sindarah and Maidana in Surankote tehsil to track down hiding terrorists, it said.
“Based on specific intelligence a joint cordon and search operation was launched in General area Sindarah & Maidana near Surankote tehsil, Poonch by troops of IndianArmy and SOG, JmuKmrPolice,” Army’s Jammu-based White Knight Corps said in a tweet.
It said contact was established with the hiding militants, leading to an intense gunfight.
The encounter was continuing when reports last came in.
Two Intruders Killed In Poonch
Meanwhile, PTI reported that security forces killed two militants and foiled a major infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.
A defence spokesperson said on Monday while the body of one militant was recovered from the site, the second ultra fell into the Poonch river after being shot.
It was a joint operation by the army and Jammu Kashmir Police carried out on the intervening night of July 16-17 in the Krishna Ghati Sector of Poonch district, he said, adding arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site.
The spokesperson said the operation was launched after the alert troops noticed suspicious movement from across the LoC towards the Indian side near the Poonch River.
Army and J and K Police personnel set up anti-infiltration posture in multiple tiers to prevent any terrorist from entering or escaping, he said.
The exchange of fire began in the early hours and the two terrorists were hit. “One of the terrorists fell on the spot while the other terrorist was observed falling in the Poonch river,” he said.
“Operation Bahadur in Poonch Sector. A major infiltration bid was eliminated in a joint operation by Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police during the night of July 17 in Poonch Sector. Two infiltrators have been eliminated,” the White Knight Corps said in a tweet.
The spokesperson said efforts are underway to trace the body of the terrorist who fell in the river.
Major “war like stores” including one AK-74 rifle with magazine, 11 rounds and other items for sustenance were recovered, the spokesman said.
The army also released thermal images showing the infiltration bid.
The security Forces continue to remain alert on the Line of Control and are fully prepared to thwart such attempts in the future too, spokesman said.
An increase in infiltration bids have been witnessed this year in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
On July 11, one militant was killed when army troops foiled an infiltration in the Nowshera area along the LoC in Rajouri district.
An Indian Army soldier was injured in an exchange of fire with militants attempting to cross the Line of Control in the Poonch district on June 24.
Eight days before that, an infiltration bid was foiled along the LoC in Poonch and a large consignment of arms and ammunition was seized on June 16.
Two militants were killed when an infiltration bid was foiled in Machail area along LoC on June 14.
Soldier Found Dead Inside Army Camp
A separate report said a soldier was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside a military camp in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Naik Varinder Singh was found dead inside his barrack by his colleagues when he failed to respond to their call for duty at a forward location during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, officials said on Monday.
The soldier was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead by the doctors, the officials said, adding police have started inquest proceedings to ascertain the cause of his death.
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