Two Terrorists Shot Dead In J&K`s Rajouri; One More Army Jawan Martyred, Total Five

Another Indian soldier has died in the ongoing encounter with terrorists in J&K`s Rajouri. Five Army personnel have been killed in action since yesterday.

Rajouri: The security forces on Thursday shot dead two terrorists, one of them associated with Lashar-e-Taiba, in the ongoing anti-terror operation after a fierce encounter broke out in the Bajimaal area of Dharmsal in the Rajouri district yesterday. One of the two slain terrorists has been identified as Quari, a Pakistani national. 

Tragically, one more Indian Army jawan lost his life in the ongoing gun battle in Rajouri. In total, five Army personnel have lost their lives in the ongoing anti-terror operation in the area.

The killing of two terrorists comes hours after the tragic death of four Army personnel in the Rajouri-Bajimal encounter. News agency ANI cited defence officials as saying: "One more terrorist has been neutralised by security forces in the ongoing counter-terrorist operation in Rajauri. weapons and ammunition have also been recovered from the encounter location. More details are awaited." 

The PRO Defence Jammu earlier said that a terrorist, who was killed during the operation, was trained on the Pakistan and Afghanistan fronts. He was a high-ranked LeT terrorist who had been active in the Rajouri-Poonch region along with his group for the past year. He was also believed to be the mastermind of the Dangri and Kandi attacks.

Believed to be an expert in IEDs, he was sent to revive terrorism in the region. He was a trained sniper, who was operating from the caves and hiding there, the PRO Defence Jammu added.

This is the second day of the encounter that broke out between terrorists and joint forces of the Army and J&K Police in the Bajimaal area of Dharmsal in the Rajouri district. On Wednesday, four army personnel, including two officers, lost their lives in an ongoing encounter with terrorists in the Rajouri.

The four martyred army officials include two officer-ranked personnel and two jawans. Sources said that troops, including Special Forces, were deployed in the area after inputs were received about the movement of a group of terrorists in the area.

"16 Corps Commander and Rashtriya Rifles' Romeo Force commander are monitoring the operations closely," sources said. Based on specific intelligence, joint operations were launched in the Kalakote Area, Gulabgarh Forest, and Rajouri District.

"The terrorists have been injured and surrounded and operations are in progress, " the Indian Army's White Knight Corps said on the ongoing anti-terror operation in the Kalakote area of Rajouri, J&K.

"Contact was established on November 22 and an intense firefight ensued. The terrorists have been injured and surrounded and operations are in progress, amidst acts of valour and sacrifice by our own bravehearts in trying to prevent collateral damage to women and children in the highest traditions of the Indian Army," the Indian Army's White Knight Corps said.