JCO, four soldiers die during counter-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir`s Poonch district

They lost their lives during a counter-terrorist operation in the Rajouri sector in the Pir Panjal ranges.

New Delhi: As many as five Indian Army personnel including a junior commissioned officer (JCO) and four soldiers have lost their lives during a counter-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, PTI news agency reported on Monday (October 11, 2021).

The anti-insurgency operation was launched in a village close to DKG in Surankote in the early hours following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists, PTI said quoting a defence spokesman.

As per the officials, there are reports about the presence of a group of heavily-armed terrorists in Chamrer forest after they managed to sneak from across the Line of Control (LoC).

Earlier in the day, the Jammu and Kashmir police had informed that two terrorists were killed in separate operations in Anantnag and Bandipora districts. They said that one of the terrorists, identified as Imtiaz Ahmad Dar, was affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT (TRF) and was involved in the recent civilian killings in the valley.

Dar was involved in the killing of Mohammad Shafi Lone on October 5. 

The other encounter broke out when the security forces had launched a cordon and search operation at Khagund in Anantnag district's Verinag area following information about the presence of militants there. The search operation turned into an encounter after militants opened fire on the security forces, who retaliated. The security personnel also recovered a pistol and a grenade. One policeman was also injured and taken to a hospital.

Earlier last week, five civilians were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in separate incidents on Tuesday and Thursday.