Ultras believed to be foreigners
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Oct 2: Three Army soldiers were injured in an encounter with two to three militants tonight at Broh forests in Kalakote tehsil of this border district.
While Army, police and paramilitary forces launched search operation at Broh this afternoon, a contact with the militants was established tonight leading to heavy exchange of gun fighting.
Three Army soldiers were injured in the firing and have been hospitalised.
Additional troops were rushed to the spot tonight to ensure that the militants don’t manage to escape.
The militants appeared to be part of two to three groups which are active in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
“The forest area of Broh has been cordoned off with strong presence of security personnel,” the officials said. Click here to watch video
The militants, as per the inputs, are reported to be foreigners and are equipped with sophisticated weapons and explosive devices.
How the militants managed to reach Broh forests in Kalakote tehsil is a matter of investigation which will follow after the encounter. Prior to this, security forces had killed two foreign militants at Narla in Taryath area of Rajouri which is also in the hinterland. Kalakote and Taryath have no LoC close to them.
This year, the number of encounters, both along the Line of Control as well as hinterland has gone up in Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi districts. More than 30 militants have been killed in the three districts. A number of infiltration attempts have also been foiled on the LoC by the troops in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
The year began with killing of seven members from minorities in Dhangri area of Rajouri district by two foreign militants. It was followed by an attack on an Army vehicle at Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar area of Poonch district on April 20 in which five soldiers were martyred. Days later on May 5, five more jawans sacrificed their lives in gun battle with the militants at Kandi forests of Rajouri.
However, a series of encounters followed these killings at Surankote, Darhal, Narla, Dhakikote etc in Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi districts in which a number of foreign militants were killed.
Besides, the Army eliminated several militants trying to infiltrate into the Indian territory from Pakistan on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
Additional troops have already been deployed along the LoC in the two districts besides at sensitive areas in the hinterland to flush out the hiding militants.
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