Security forces strengthen cordon
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 7: Security forces established contact with a group of three terrorists at Kamadh Nullah in Kahog area of Billawar tehsil in Kathua district this afternoon after which cordon has been strengthened in the area with deployment of Army and CRPF besides police and Special Operations Group (SOG).
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Reports said a group of SOG personnel spotted movement of one terrorist, who was moving ahead, and challenged him. He was followed by two terrorists at some distance along Kamad Nullah.
Unconfirmed reports said one of the terrorists may have been hit by a bullet. However, there was no official confirmation of injuries on either side.
The terrorists had reportedly come down from mountains either to collect food or to carry out an attack. They took tea in an area when their movement was reported to the SOG which carried out the operation.
“As soon as the gun battle took place, Army and CRPF also joined the operation and cordoned off the entire area,’’ the officials said.
The terrorists were first spotted at 7.30 AM and then again at 12.30 PM. However, a contact with them was established by the SOG at 4 PM. Since then, there has been no contact with the terrorists. However, the cordon is being maintained by security forces to ensure that the terrorists don’t manage to escape.
“SOG (Special Operations Group of local police) has engaged terrorists in the forest of Kamadh Nullah, Kathua,” Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti said in a post on X.
In another post, he said despite darkness, thick vegetation and treacherous terrain, the SOG is relentlessly engaging the terrorists. “Teams of CRPF are also participating in the Joint Operation.”
According to official sources, the intense firing between the two sides lasted for over an hour before the guns fell silent.
Sources said the search parties are moving cautiously to avoid any casualty.
Kathua district witnessed several encounters between security forces and terrorists in the past two years, resulting in the killing of 16 people – 11 security personnel and five terrorists.
While seven security personnel were martyred and two militants were killed in 2024 when terrorists revived their activities in the district after more than a decade, seven persons – four security personnel and three terrorists – were killed last year, the officials said.
In addition, four civilians died under mysterious circumstances with locals suspecting the involvement of terrorists in their killings.
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