Security Forces Intensify Search and Cordon Operation After Kathua Encounter
Security Forces Intensify Search and Cordon Operations After Kathua Encounter
Security forces have intensified search and cordon operations in Kathua following an exchange of fire with terrorists in the Panjtirthi area on Monday. The operations, led by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), are based on intelligence inputs and aim to neutralize remaining threats.
Multiple surveillance points and ambushes have been set up in the region as part of the ongoing joint operation. Suspicious movement was detected on the night of March 31, which led to a fresh encounter early on April 1.
In a statement, the Star Corps of the Indian Army confirmed, “Acting on intelligence inputs, multiple surveillance cum ambushes were deployed in the general area of Panjtirthi, Kathua. Suspicious movement was observed, leading to an exchange of fire. Search and destroy operations were launched at first light on April 1. Operations are ongoing.”
An exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists took place late Monday night in the Billawar area of Kathua. The Jammu and Kashmir Police confirmed the incident, stating that the forces had launched a massive search and cordon operation in the area, resulting in the clash.
The security forces’ efforts were intensified in the region after the encounter, with authorities maintaining a heightened alert throughout the area. DIG Sharma expressed sorrow over the loss of one soldier during the operation, while assuring that the troops’ morale remains high and their training is top-notch.
The search operation is ongoing, and authorities have placed the entire region on high alert as they continue their efforts to track down any remaining terrorists.
Earlier in the counter-terror operation ‘Safiyan’ in the Kathua region, four Jammu and Kashmir police personnel were killed, while two terrorists were neutralized. The forces also recovered war-like materials from the encounter site. The operation began on March 23, following reports from locals about suspected Pakistani infiltrators in the Sanyal area.
