NAC lauds troops’ resilience
Jammu, Sept 21: Army troops exchanged fire with terrorists in a forest area in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, officials said.
However, there was no immediate report of any casualty in the gunfight which took place in Keshwan, the officials said.
“Alert troops of White Knight Corps at around 1 pm today, while carrying out an intelligence based operation in general area of Kishtwar, have established contact with terrorists. Fire exchanged with terrorists. Operation is in progress,” the Army said in a post on X.
The officials said a brief encounter ensued when army troops launched a search operation following inputs about the presence of terrorists in the forest area.
Reinforcements have been rushed and a search operation is underway to track down and neutralize the terrorists, they said.
Meanwhile, Security forces launched a massive anti-terrorist operation covering over a dozens places in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district following information about suspicious movement, officials said.
Joint searches by the special operations group (SOG) of local police, CRPF and Rashtriya Rifles were underway in different areas under the jurisdiction of Surankote, Mendhar, Gursai, Poonch and Mandi police stations, they said.
Security forces launched the cordon and search operation at Girjan Gali Tanh, Godriananad, Karru, Upper Banikhet, Nadiyan Dhok, Murrah and Nadily Sum in Surankote, Burie Mohalla, Jogi Mohalla, Jattan Mohalla Chajjla and Banola forest Balakote in Mendhar and Shahpur and Guntrian in Poonch.
The searches are also being carried out at Loharika, Sangiote and Gursai Morha in Gursai and Lower Sawjian and its adjoining area in Mandi, the officials said.
They said there was no report of any arrest or recovery so far.
In the related development, the Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Sunday visited the forward areas along the Line of Control in Akhnoor sector and commended all ranks for maintaining high operational readiness amid demanding circumstances in the wake of record rainfall in August.
Lt Gen Sharma also complimented the troops for their resilient action, and swift and successful execution of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts during the flash floods in the region, the Northern Command said in a post on X.
“During his visit, Lt Gen Sharma commended all ranks for their unyielding commitment to maintain high operational readiness and morale amid demanding circumstances, while highlighting the necessity of sustained alertness and continued peace,” it said.
