News Analysis India

Tag: Poonch encounter

  • Firing resumes in J&K’s forest, search operation enters 15th day

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Heavy firing was reported from a forest area as a massive search operation to track down hiding terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri entered the 15th day on Monday, officials said.

    It was not immediately clear whether the firing in Bhatti Durrian forest was the result of a fresh contact with the terrorists, believed to be hiding in caves deep inside the forest, the officials said.

    Nine Army personnel including two JCO’s and an arrested Pakistani terrorist have been killed and three security men injured since the commencement of the operation on October 11.

    While five Army personnel were killed on the first day of the operation in Surankote forest of Poonch, four other soldiers lost their lives in Bhatti Durrian area of Mendhar on October 14.

    The Pakistani terrorist, who was shifted from Kot Bhalwal Central Jail Jammu to Mendhar on police remand for questioning in connection with the ongoing operation was killed when the security forces accompanying him to identify a hideout came under fire from hiding terrorists on Sunday.

    Besides Surankote and Mendhar, the search operation also continued in nearby Thanamandi forest in Rajouri district.

    The officials said Army helicopters made several sorties over the besieged forest area, while drones are also being used to keep a tight surveillance to ensure that the terrorists are not able to flee.

    Nearly a dozen persons including two women were also detained for questioning after it came to light that they allegedly provided logistic support including food and shelter to the terrorists, the officials said.

    Traffic between Mendhar and Thanamandi along the Jammu-Rajouri highway remained suspended as a precautionary measure for the 10th day on Monday in the wake of the ongoing operation.

    Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts since June this year, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists in separate encounters.

  • ‘Stay indoors’, J&K Police tells locals as forces go for final kill in Poonch forest

    By IANS

    JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday asked people not to move towards the forest area in J&K’s Poonch district where an encounter is going on between the Army and the militants for the last 8 days.

    Police made appeals to people through public address systems in mosques in the Bahatdhurian area of Poonch, urging them not to move towards the jungle and keep their livestock inside their premises.

    “These announcements were made after some people were seen moving towards jungle along with livestock amid ongoing encounter in the area.

    “People can contact police any time and we are in the service of public 24X7. We will ensure home delivery of anything needed by them urgently,” a police officer said.

    Police did not agree that these announcements were being made because the Army was preparing a major offensive against the militants hiding in the jungle area.

    Defence sources said six militants have been killed in the 8-day-long operation against the militants in the area.

    Nine soldiers, including two JCOs, have also been killed in this operation.

    Army chief, M.M. Naravane visited the area on Tuesday along with senior field commanders.

  • Families of Poonch martyrs united in grief

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN:  As the news of martyrdom of Army soldiers Vikram Singh Negi and Yogambar Singh reached their home in Uttarakhand, family members still are in shock and disbelief. Both the jawans were killed in Nar Khas forest area during the counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. While Negi, 26, was a resident of Village Viman Gaon, Singh, 27, hailed from Saankri village.

    Singh, who returned to his posting in July after a month’s leave, has a one- year-old son. His wife Kusum Devi fell unconscious while his parents are in a state of shock. Janki Devi has been inconsolable after she lost her son in the line of duty. “This is like snatching away a family’s life. I don’t know how I will console my family members,” said Vasudev Singh, a kin at Saankri in Chamoli district. 

     Anand Singh Bhandari, gram pradhan of Sankari village,  said Singh joined the Army in year 2015.  “We all attended his marriage in 2018 and danced our hearts out. We were proud of him and now all that remains are memories,” the pradhan said. The body of the martyr reached Rishikesh and would arrive till late night or on Saturday morning. 

    Surendra Singh Negi, the uncle of rifleman Virendra Singh Negi, said Vikram joined the Army five years back.  “The information (of martyrdom) was received by his wife Parvati. It’s devastating. He had his whole life to live… It’s unfair how terrorism has cut such promising life short,” said the grieving uncle. Negi’s 18-month son is unaware that he will never get to know his father or meet him.  The Negi household, especially the  martyr’s wife, mother Birja Devi and 95-year-old grandmother Rukma Devi, are speechless as they struggle to come  terms with their loss.

    Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dham condoled the loss of the two families.  “Our soldiers have made the  supreme sacrifice in the service of Mother India. Their sacrifice will never ever be forgotten. I pray to God to grant courage and patience to the families and all of us to bear the loss,” he said.

  • Fresh encounter underway between terrorists, security forces in J&K’s Poonch, jawan injured

    By ANI

    POONCH: Another fresh encounter broke out on Monday afternoon between the security forces and terrorists wherein one jawan was injured.

    More details are awaited.

    Earlier an encounter broke out in the morning in which a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and four jawans of Indian Army were injured in anti-terrorist operations and later lost their lives.

    “An encounter is going on between Army troops and terrorists in the Poonch area around 2 kilometres from the site where a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and four jawans of Indian Army were injured in anti-terrorist operations and later lost their lives. An Army personnel is injured in this encounter,”as per the Indian Army sources,

    ALSO READ | JCO among five soldiers killed in encounter with militants in J&K’s Poonch

    Earlier today, a junior commissioned officer (JCO) and four soldiers of the Indian Army have been killed during a counter-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri sector in the Pir Panjal ranges, informed sources.

    “A junior commissioned officer (JCO) and four soldiers have been killed in action during a counter-terrorist operation in the Rajouri sector in the Pir Panjal ranges,” sources said.