JAMMU, MAR 24: An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Sanyal village of Hiranagar sector, Kathua district, on Saturday evening after civilians reported the movement of infiltrators. The area, located just four kilometers from the International Border, was immediately cordoned off by Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), Special Operations Group (SOG), Army, and paramilitary forces to prevent the terrorists from escaping under the cover of darkness.
A seven-year-old girl, identified as Anchal Kumari, sustained injuries and was shifted to a local hospital, reported from spot by The Newsroom 24 – Awaz’s Editor, Pawan Sharma. However, the exact cause of her injury remains unknown.
The presence of terrorists was first noticed by a woman, Anita Devi, who, along with her husband Ganesh Kumar and brother-in-law, had gone to collect firewood in the Nursery in Sanyal village. She informed the police that they saw five armed men moving suspiciously. The terrorists allegedly attempted to capture her husband and brother-in-law, threatening to kill them if they alerted anyone. However, the civilians managed to escape and informed the Village Defence Guards (VDGs) and police.
Following this, police and SOG launched an immediate operation, leading to a brief but intense exchange of fire near the Nursery. The hiding terrorists opened heavy fire on security forces, prompting retaliation. Initial reports suggested no casualties in the first round of firing, which lasted for about half an hour. Additional reinforcements from the Army and paramilitary forces were rushed to the area to neutralize the infiltrators.
Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Zone Bhim Sen Tuti, and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Jammu-Kathua Range Shiv Kumar Sharma also reached the encounter site to oversee the operation on last night.
Preliminary inputs indicate that the terrorists infiltrated from Pakistan the previous night, possibly through a newly created tunnel or a ravine route. Some sources also suggested that two separate groups of 5-6 terrorists each may have entered the region, though official confirmation was awaited.
In the morning of Monday, National Security Guards (NSG) also joined the operation and the security forces also tracking the hidden terrorits through Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) into the area.
