4 policemen killed, 3 terrorists gunned down in encounter in J&K’s Kathua

According to reports from news agencies citing officials on Thursday, a day-long gunfight in the remote wooded region of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir resulted in the deaths of three terrorists and four policemen.

 Officials reported that during the operation conducted by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, supported by the Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), seven other policemen, including a deputy superintendent, sustained injuries.

The Indian Army confirmed the death of the policemen on Friday morning via a post on X. #RisingStarCorps salutes the valor & indomitable spirit of the brave @JmuKmrPolice personnel who made the supreme sacrifice fighting valiantly during the ongoing OP SAFIYAN in #Kathua. Their courage and dedication will always be remembered,” Rising Star Corps of the Indian Army posted. However, the number of casualties was not mentioned in the post.

The confrontation began at approximately 8 am on Thursday during heightened efforts by Jammu and Kashmir Police targeting a recently infiltrated faction of militants thought to belong to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) group, according to officials.

The confrontation took place close to Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana region of Rajbagh, involving around five terrorists. An initial gunfire exchange led to injuries sustained by six policemen, including the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) who was leading a search team, according to the officials mentioned above.

Officials stated that it was not immediately evident if it was the same group that had been dodging a previous blockade in the Sanyal forest of the Kathua region or a different group of infiltrated terrorists.

The shootout resulted in gunfire and blasts, with numerous local youths observed helping the security forces transport heavy weapons and ammunition deep into a gorge, according to officials. The officials mentioned in the report stated that three terrorists were eliminated during the clash, and five police officers, including the SDPO, were allegedly trapped near the site of the shootout, close to a stream hidden by thick vegetation.

As the SDPO, a DSP rank officer, was removed from the location late in the evening, three of his personal security officers were reported dead, official sources cited by a news agency stated, indicating that the status of another missing policeman was not immediately clear.