Srinagar, Sep 29: The ongoing encounter in Kathua has resulted in the death toll rising to two, following the killing of an unidentified militant on Sunday. Officials have confirmed that operations will persist until all militants in the area are neutralized.
Background of the Encounter
The encounter began on Saturday in the remote village of Kog-Mandli, located in the Billawar tehsil of Kathua district. The Indian Army reported the recovery of war-like stores from the slain militant, indicating the seriousness of the situation. The operation, named #OpKUAIG, was launched on September 28 by the Rising Star Corps in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Details of the Operation
According to officials, the body of the militant was recovered from the encounter site by the afternoon. The operation remains ongoing as security forces conduct a massive search for additional militants believed to be hiding in the vicinity. Anand Jain, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for Jammu Zone, stated that the operation was initiated following intelligence reports of three to four foreign militants present in the village.
The situation escalated on Saturday evening when a joint security search team was fired upon by terrorists, resulting in the death of Head Constable Bashir Ahmad and injuries to a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI). The injured officers are reported to be in stable condition.
Ongoing Efforts
ADGP Jain emphasized that efforts are being made to eliminate the remaining militants. “We have cordoned off the entire area, and operations will continue until the terrorists are eliminated. We suspect there are still three to four foreign terrorists hiding in the village,” he said.
Regarding the timing of the operation, which coincides with the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls scheduled for October 1, Jain reiterated that anti-militancy operations are part of an ongoing effort. “Our security forces are continuously receiving information about terrorist activities, and we are determined to neutralize these threats promptly,” he added.
Security Measures
Jain also assured that adequate security measures have been implemented in all poll-bound areas to prevent militancy-related incidents and ensure a violence-free election. The third phase of polling will cover the districts of Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, and Samba in the Jammu region, as well as Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora in north Kashmir.
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