Rajouri Operation: Militant killed, another injured: Army, Defense Minister arrives in Jammu
KASHMIR NEWS TRUST #KNT
Army Saturday said that after establishing fresh contact with the hiding militants in Kandi forest area of Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a militant has been killed while another has possibly sustained bullet injuries.
The killing of a militant comes after the death of five soldiers in the same forest area yesterday.
Five soldiers identified as Ruchin Singh, Sidhart Chetri, Arvind Kumar, Neelam Singh, and Pramod Negi were killed after militants triggered a blast yesterday during a cordon and search operation.
Jammu-based Defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said the contact was established with the militants hiding in the Kandi forest area of Rajouri at midnight.
“The militants fired on the security personnel, who retaliated. In the ensuing gunfight, a militant was killed and another injured,” he said.
Army recovered one AK 56 rifle, 4 magazines, 56 rounds, 1 x 9mm Pistol with magazine, three grenades and one ammunition pouch.
“The identity of the slain militant and the outfit to which he owed allegiance is being ascertained,” he said.
The cordon and search operation in the forest area is going on, he said.
An official said that it is a massive search operation where army is being assisted by specially trained para-troopers, local police, and paramilitary personnel. He said besides taking help from the sniffer dogs drones and choppers are continuously hovering in the sky.
Pertinently, Army has been conducting a relentless cordon and search operation in the forest area of Rajouri and Poonch to track down the militants involved in the April 20 ambush on an army truck in Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in Poonch district in which five soldiers were killed.
People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) claimed responsibility for the April 20 attack.
Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Army’s Northern Command, Lt. General Upendra Dwivedi visited Rajouri and reviewed the ongoing operation. He was accompanied by top brass from the armed forces.
Reports said that Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Jammu on Saturday morning. He will interact with the armed forces and will also preside over an important security meeting. [KNT]
