3 groups of terrorists active in Rajouri, Poonch: ADGP
Jammu Tawi, Aug 6: An encounter between terrorists and security forces in a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district entered the second day on Sunday, with police advising people to stay at a distance of two kilometres for their safety.
Jammu-based Army PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said two to three terrorists are believed to be holed up in the besieged village and their repeated attempts to break the cordon has been thwarted by controlled fire throughout the night.
An unidentified terrorist was killed on Saturday in the initial exchange of fire with the security forces during a joint cordon-and-search operation launched by police and the Army at Gundha-Khawas village in Budhal area.
Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Singh said that about three groups of terrorists, each comprising two to three ultras, are operating in Jammu Kashmir's Rajouri and Poonch districts, asserting that security forces are determined to wipe out terrorism from the region.
Each group comprises two to three terrorists but divulging their exact number is difficult,” the ADGP flanked by the Army's Romeo Force Major General Mohit Trivedi, told reporters in Rajouri.
He added the slain terrorist is believed to be from Pakistan and that it was evident from the material, including medicines and shoes, recovered from him.
He said Special Forces were brought in by Indian Air Force helicopter, while night enabled Quadcopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and sniffer dogs were also pressed into service.
Police in Rajouri issued an advisory on Sunday, asking people to stay away from the encounter scene to avoid any casualty.
“It is for the information of all that the operation is in progress with exchange of crossfire in the general area of village Gundha, Khawas. People are advised not to visit the area and remain at a safe distance of at least two km outside the periphery of the area,” the advisory reads.
“One more terrorist is present in the village and an encounter is on,” he said, adding the seizure from the encounter scene, including raincoats and food items, indicated that they were trained to survive in jungle conditions.
Reinforcements of the security forces have plugged all escape routes for the terrorists and efforts are on to neutralise them, the official said.
He said the search operation was launched after police received information about the movement of terrorists in the area.
Arms, ammunition and grenade recovered after an encounter between terrorists and security forces, in Rajouri district
A small police team launched the operation and was later joined by reinforcements from the Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the official said, adding the body of the slain terrorist was yet to be retrieved from the scene of the encounter.
After initial contact, Army troops moved to the area and pinned down terrorists assessed to be up to two-three. Additional troops of the Rashtriya Rifles mobilised as terrain is undulating and forested, Lt Col Bartwal said.
He referred to the killing of six terrorists in recent encounters, including four in the Surankote area of Poonch on July 18, and said attempts to disturb the peaceful atmosphere by pushing terrorists into the Indian side is going on unabated from across the border.
“We are making double efforts to thwart their attempts and wipe out terrorism from the region,” Singh said.
On the possible involvement of the slain terrorist in the Dhangri attack where seven civilians were killed in January, the officer said, “It is also part of the investigation. We will call the eyewitnesses for identification of the slain terrorist.”
Singh said strict action is being taken against over-ground workers of the terror groups. “Several of them have already been booked under the Public Safety Act while we are also keeping a constant vigil on suspected persons.”
Major General Trivedi credited the success against the terrorists to the synergy among the Army, police and other sister agencies and the cooperation of the people.
“The operations against terrorists will continue to ensure they do not get a foothold. The terrorists were feeling that they will operate with ease but we have cornered them,” he said, adding anyone having any ill will against the region or the country will be dealt with sternly.
