Srinagar, Sep 20: An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in the Shikari area of Chassana, Reasi district, with firing continuing on both sides as of late Friday, officials reported.
Anand Jain, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for Jammu Zone, stated that a joint search operation was initiated based on specific intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the area. “Contact has been established, and a few rounds have been fired from both sides. The area is cordoned off, and further details are awaited,” he told .
“The contact has been established & few rounds have been fired from both sides. Area cordoned off and further details awaited,” he said.
Jain said hiding terrorists opened fire on the security personnel, who retaliated, thereby triggering a gunfight. Firing has stopped now, search operation has been intensified.
Another police officer said that the entire area is still under tight security cordon to neutralise the terrorists. They have also deployed additional companies to the nearby areas” he said.
“It may be the same group of terrorists that was roaming in the region. They have recently infiltrated through IB. We are hopeful that we will succeed in eliminating the entire group of terrorists involved in this attack,” he added.
The officer said night vision drones, choppers and more troops have arrived in the area to track the movement of terrorists.
Meanwhile, a high alert has been issued in adjacent areas and security has been tightened, with ‘Naka’ checking and rigorous vehicle inspections implemented across the region.
On Sep 14, an Army soldier was injured during an encounter with terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district and it was the second attempt within the past one month.
The encounter comes days ahead of second phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on September 25, and the final phase on October 1.
