Jammu, June 12: Security forces Wednesday neutralised the second terrorist, holed-up in a forest stretch along Saida Sukhal village in Hiranagar, however, a CRPF soldier, who sustained injuries in a fierce exchange of fire, succumbed to his injuries.
The operation that lasted around 16 hours, also saw the miraculous escape of senior police officers when the bullets, sprayed by the trapped terrorist in a bid to break the cordon, hit their bullet-proof vehicles.
After neutralisation of both the terrorists, the security forces recovered a huge cache of weapons, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), grenades besides other ammunition, currency notes, medicines and eatables.
However, the search operation continued as security forces did not rule out the possibility of more terrorists hiding in the area.
The encounter had begun on Tuesday evening when the police along with army and CRPF launched a joint operation following inputs about the presence of two terrorists in the village Saida Sohal near Koota Morh area of Hiranagar.
“They (terrorists) asked for water from a few houses following which the villagers grew suspicious and slammed the doors on them and a few of them raised hue and cry. The terrorists panicked and fired randomly in the air and also at one odd villager, who was passing by. SHO Hiranagar and the SDPO Border rushed to the spot, engaged the terrorists and as a result one terrorist was killed last night while lobbing a grenade at the police party,” officials said.
Search for the other terrorist was going on. He was neutralised today.
“J&K Police, in its joint operation led by senior police officers, J&K Police Special Operation Group (SOG) along with the help of CRPF and Indian army had cordoned off the area. Thereafter the search parties cleared the houses one by one and rescued one injured person along with his wife. They were evacuated to the hospital. While the woman is unhurt; her husband Omkar Nath, son of Dina Nath sustained injuries in the arm. He was stable,” the officials said.
According to officials, the holed-up terrorist around 3 am tried to break the cordon and thus ensued fierce exchange of fire wherein one CRPF personnel namely CT/GD Kabir Dass No.115062756 of 121 Bn CRPF, son of Shiv Charan, resident of Madhya Pradesh, suffered bullet injuries.
During the operation, official vehicles of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua range, Sunil Gupta and Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, Anayat Ali Choudhary were hit by several bullets but the officers escaped unhurt.
“CRPF soldier, later, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at SDH Hiranagar and gave supreme sacrifice in the line of duty,” officials stated.
Wreath laying ceremony of the CRPF soldier was held at battalion headquarters later in the day.
During the cleaning and search operation, a huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered. Recoveries included 1 AK 56 Rifle; 1 M4 Rifle; 10 magazines along with total 382 rounds; 8 live grenades; Rs 2,10,000 currency notes, eatables including Pakistan-made chocolates; dry chana (grams); stale chapatis, Pakistan-made medicines; pain killer injections and electronic equipments.
In this regard, an FIR No. 101/2024 U/S 307/120-B/121/121-A/122/IPC, 13/16/18/23/UAPA ACT & 7/27 Arms Act was also registered at Police Station Hiranagar while the further investigation was underway.
