Tragic Encounter in Kathua: 4 Policemen Martyred, 3 Terrorists Gunned Down

In a tragic incident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, a day-long gunfight in a remote forested area resulted in the deaths of three terrorists and four policemen, according to reports citing officials on Thursday. According to officials, seven other policemen, including a deputy superintendent of police, were injured during the encounter. The operation was led by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, with support from the Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

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.

According to reports, the encounter began around 8 a.m. on Thursday, as the Jammu and Kashmir Police intensified operations against a recently infiltrated group of terrorists suspected to belong to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit.The gunfight occurred near Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh, where a group of approximately five terrorists engaged in an initial exchange of fire, resulting in injuries to six policemen, including the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) leading the search operation.  

Officials mentioned that it was unclear whether the group of terrorists was the same that had previously evaded a cordon in the Sanyal forest of the Kathua region or a different group of infiltrators. The encounter involved heavy firing and explosions, with local youths seen assisting security forces in carrying heavy weapons and ammunition deep into a gorge. As per the officials, three terrorists were killed in the encounter, while five police personnel, including the SDPO, were reportedly trapped near the gunfight site, concealed by dense foliage along a rivulet. 

During an encounter in Kathua, the SDPO, a DSP-rank officer, was evacuated, but three of his personal security officers were found dead, while one policeman remained missing. On Friday, officials discovered the body of the missing policeman using a drone. The bodies of the slain terrorists could not be retrieved as the operation was paused overnight, with two more terrorists believed to be trapped. Although presumed dead, the terrorists’ bodies were not located by drones. The operation was set to resume at first light on Friday.

Besides the SDPO, two more policemen were admitted to Kathua Hospital, where their condition was described as "stable." Two army personnel who were injured were transferred to a military hospital for treatment. Special Army troops were air-dropped at the encounter site in the evening to strengthen the cordon around the area. Officials added that bodies of two terrorists were spotted using drones and would be recovered on Friday morning.  Meanwhile, the People's Anti-Fascist Front, a proxy outfit of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), claimed responsibility for the attack on the police party.

Last Sunday evening, the Special Operations Group (SOG) intercepted a group of terrorists in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, officials reported.  Despite a large-scale search operation, the terrorists managed to evade the initial cordon. Officials believe the same group was later sighted near Jakhole, approximately 30 kilometers from the initial encounter location. The terrorists were moving through a forested area when a police team, led by a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), advanced on specific intelligence. However, the team came under heavy fire, triggering a fierce gunfight, officials said.  

During search operations on Monday, security forces recovered various items from the Hiranagar encounter site, including four loaded M4 carbine magazines, two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeping bags, tracksuits, food packets, and materials for making improvised explosive devices (IEDs).  Police suspect the terrorists infiltrated on Saturday, possibly using a ravine route or a recently constructed tunnel from across the border.