JAMMU: Two terrorists affiliated with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were killed in an encounter with security forces in a remote area of Kishtwar district on Sunday, officials said.
According to the Army, the terrorists were neutralised during the ‘Trashi-I’ operation in the general area of Passerkut in the Chatroo belt. Arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 rifles, were recovered from the site.
In a statement, the Army’s White Knight Corps said that based on credible intelligence inputs collated from the J&K Police, Intelligence Bureau and its own sources, a deliberate joint operation was launched under Operation Trashi-I to track and eliminate terrorists operating in the Kishtwar region.
“Following successful contact established earlier, troops of CIF (Counter-Intelligence Force) Delta, in close coordination with police and CRPF, re-engaged the terrorists at approximately 11 am in challenging terrain,” the Corps said.
The Army said the troops displayed tactical precision and seamless coordination while dominating the encounter site, resulting in the killing of two terrorists. “The hunt continues – those who seek to disturb peace will find no sanctuary,” it added.
Preliminary information suggests that both slain terrorists were Pakistani nationals and members of the proscribed JeM. Officials said the terrorists were hiding inside a mud house on the foothills of a hill and opened fire on the approaching search parties, triggering an intense gunfight.
The search operation in the area was ongoing at the time of filing this report.
The Chatroo forest belt has witnessed multiple gunfights in recent weeks. With Sunday’s operation, a total of six JeM terrorists have been eliminated in separate encounters across the Jammu region this year. Earlier, two terrorists were killed in Udhampur and one in Kathua district.
