• Crackdown on OGW network intensifies
• Drones, other technical resources being ensured: Army
• Several OWG’s detained, more arrests expected: Doda Police
Srinagar, July17: A day after four Army personnel were killed in a fire-fight with terrorists in Urranbaggi area of Dessa, a brief exchange of fire was reported in Malan village in Dessa area of Doda district of Jammu region.
A top police official told Rising Kashmir that the exchange of fire between the security forces and terrorists took place around 1 am when they opened fire on the search parties in the BhattaDessa forests of Doda.
“The security forces then retaliated, and after a brief exchange of fire, the terrorists fled to dense forests,” he said.
While escaping, they came across a Village Defence Group (VDG) and had a brief exchange of fire before absconding to the upper reaches of the area.
The official said that after witnessing suspected movement the VDG members opened fire on the terrorists. “There was a brief exchange of fire and so far, there are no reports of injury to anyone,” he said.
“Forces have been rushed to the area whereas the cordon and search operation is underway to track down hiding terrorists,” the official added.
On Monday night, terrorists attacked a joint Army and police search party in a forest area, killing a Captain and three other soldiers.
As per police, attackers are believed to be the same group that fled after assaulting security forces in the Sezan forests of Doda district on July 9.
The police official further said that the entire forest belt is under a tight security cordon to neutralize the terrorists. “The area is mountainous and the forest is dense, making the operation both difficult and dangerous,” he said.
“We have intensified with the support of para commandos and aerial support from drones and helicopters to eliminate the terrorists who have infiltrated from across the border and taken refuge in the forest area,” the police official added.
PRO Army, Jammu Division, Lt Col SuneelBartwal said that additional troops and equipment have been inducted to flush out the terrorists and the use of drones and other technical resources is being ensured.
“Indian Army has been conducting a series of joint and coordinated operations with J&K Police to eliminate foreign terrorists who have infiltrated and are moving in the upper reaches of Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah areas and thereafter to Kashmir Valley,” he said.
On Tuesday, four Army soldiers of Rashtriya Rifles including a Major-rank officer succumbed to their injuries after an encounter with terrorists in Desa forests.
On the third day, the Jammu and Kashmir Police intensified its crackdown on the OGW’s network and several OGW’s and supporters have been arrested in response to recent attacks in the region.
On June 12, 2024, an FIR (No. 67/2024) was registered under various sections of the IPC, Arms Act, and UAPA at Police Station Gandoh.
The spokesman said following investigations led by SDPO Gandoh, MubashirHussain, Safder Ali, and Sajad Ahmed were arrested on June 18 and 20, 2024, and are currently under judicial custody at District Jail Bhaderwah.
“Subsequently, on June 26, 2024, another FIR (No. 70/2024) was registered at police station Gandoh and Showket Ali was apprehended on July 14, 2024 and is under police custody, with further arrests anticipated as the investigation progresses on,” he said.
Terrorist activities, initially confined to Poonch and Rajouri districts, have now spread across the Jammu division, a region that was free from terrorism until recently.
In the past 32 months, 48 soldiers have been killed in action in Jammu.This was the second major encounter in the Jammu division after five soldiers were killed in Kathua on July 11.
