A close overnight gunbattle in Kathua district of Jammu & Kashmir concluded on Wednesday after security forces neutralized a second militant who had taken refuge in a village, resulting in the unfortunate loss of a CRPF jawan’s life, as reported by the police.
In a subsequent incident, a special police officer sustained injuries in Doda district’s Kota Top area near Gandoh, following an exchange of fire between militants and a joint team of police and paramilitary forces. This marked the fourth such occurrence since Sunday’s attack on a pilgrim bus in Jammu.
The joint team had initiated a search operation in response to militants targeting a police and Army outpost in Doda’s Chattergala tourist spot on Tuesday night, injuring multiple soldiers and a special police officer. The gunbattle in Kota Top was ongoing at press time, with reinforcements being dispatched to the area. It remains uncertain if the militants involved in the Kota Top engagement were the same as those responsible for the Chattergala outpost assault, although the proximity between the two locations suggests a potential connection, spanning approximately 100 km by road or a 7-8 hour trek through mountainous forests.
Meanwhile, in Kathua, security forces continued combing operations on Wednesday, suspecting the presence of additional militants. The skirmish had erupted when two militants entered a house in Saida village on Tuesday night, injuring a resident, with one militant killed shortly thereafter.
Both deceased militants were believed to have recently infiltrated Jammu & Kashmir via the Hiranagar sector from across the International Border with Pakistan.
The CRPF constable who lost his life was identified as Kabir Dass, hailing from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district. During the encounter, Kathua SSP Anayat Ali and Jammu-Samba-Kathua DIG Sunil Gupta narrowly escaped as bullets fired by militants struck the windscreen of their vehicles.
Among the items seized during the operations were an M4 carbine, an AK-47 rifle, six live grenades, ammunition, food, medicines bearing Pakistani markings, and ₹2 lakh in Indian currency.
The injured soldiers and special police officer from the Chattergala incident were admitted to the Army’s Command Hospital in Udhampur.
Following the recent spate of militant activities, including attacks on civilian targets and security forces, authorities suspended civilian vehicular movement on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road, especially in areas like Chattergala and Sarthal which are popular tourist destinations.
These incidents of violence coincide with the forthcoming Assembly elections and the imminent commencement of the 52-day Amarnath pilgrimage in the Kashmir Valley starting from June 29.
Security agencies interpret these coordinated attacks across different regions of Jammu & Kashmir, spanning both mountainous terrain and plains, as an attempt by militants to assert their presence in areas traditionally considered peaceful.
Consequently, police and security forces have heightened their vigilance in Jammu province, intensifying operations against militants who, they believe, are seeking to divert attention from districts like Rajouri and Poonch by inciting violence in Reasi, Kathua, and Doda.
