ARVIND SHARMA & Irfan Yattoo
JAMMU, May 06: One terrorist was killed and another was injured in the ongoing joint operation (Op Trinetra) launched by the Army, CRPF, and Police in the dense Kandi forests of Rajouri sector early this morning, and security forces recovered a large haul of arms and ammunition from the site of the encounter that the terrorists were carrying with them.
The forces established contact with the terrorists late last night, the second time in two days, and the gun battlestarted.
Officials said that aerial surveillance using helicopters, drones, and other high-tech equipment is being used to track down hiding terrorists.
“At 01:15 hrs on May 6, the Army reestablished contact with the terrorists, and when the forces zeroed in and moved ahead, the firing began,” an Army spokesperson stated, adding, “At approximately 07:00 hrs, the forces spotted the terrorists and pinned them down.”
In the ensuing gun battle, one terrorist was killed and another was injured. “Operation Trinetra is still underway to hunt down terrorists in Rajouri’s Kandi forests,” PRO Defence, Lt Col Devendra Anand, told Rising Kashmir.
Meanwhile, security officers recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from the encounter site in Rajouri Kandi’s dense jungles. The security forces recovered one AK-56 rifle, four AK-56 magazines, 56 rounds of AK, one 9mm pistol with magazine, three grenades, and an ammunition pouch.
The Operation Trinetra was launched by the security forces on May 3 after developing specific information about the presence of terrorists in the Kandi forests in Rajouri.
This Joint operation was launched by the security forces after the terrorists attacked an Army vehicle in Bhatta Dhurriyan area of Poonch some days back. Five jawans were martyred in this attack.
It may be mentioned that the security forces had established contact with a group of terrorists yesterday also. As the forces moved forward, the terrorists triggered an explosive device in retaliation in which 2 Army jawans were martyred, while 4 others, including an officer, were injured. Three of the injured jawans later succumbed to their injuries.
Earlier, in the day, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Army Commander, Northern Command, visited ground zero at Kandi in Rajouri and reviewed the operational situation. He was briefed on all aspects of the operations by the ground commanders.
Lt. Devender Anand, Defence PRO Jammu, told Rising Kashmir that despite adverse weather, helicopters, drones, and other high-tech equipment were utilised on Saturday to locate terrorists in dense forests of Rajouri..
Army official stated that locating terrorists in denseforests is difficult owing to the dense foliage and restricted visibility. We are making every effort, including deploying aerial and sniper dogs, to track down the terrorists, he said.
“This is the same group of terrorists who ambushed an army truck on April 20 and killed five soldiers.” “We remain optimistic that we will be able to eliminate the entire group of terrorists involved in the deadly attacks,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Army paid homage to the 5 brave hearts who laid down their lives in the service of the nation.
A solemn wreath laying ceremony was organised at Air Force Station (AFS) Jammu to pay homage to the martyred jawans. Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Army Commander, Northern Command, on behalf of all ranks paid homage to the fallen brave hearts, who laid down their lives in the service of the nation.
The attack comes 15 days after five troops were killed in Tota Gali, BhataDhurian, Poonch sector, when an Army vehicle was fired upon by “unidentified terrorists” who “took advantage of heavy rain and low visibility in the area.”
In October 2021, nine Army personnel, including two officers, were killed in the Poonch district’s Dehra ki Gali area. It occurred in the recent past, and it is the region’s longest insurgency campaign.
