Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 12: In a sudden spurt in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir since the Narendra Modi government was re-installed in the office for the third term on Sunday, two terrorists and a security personal were killed in exchange of fire in Kathua while six security personnel were injured in a terror attack on a joint checkpost in Doda.
The two terrorists who had opened fire and severely injured a civilian in Saida Sukhal village in Kathua district on Tuesday evening were killed by the security forces in an overnight gun battle during which a CRPF jawan Kabir Dass was also killed in bullets from one of the terrorists hiding in a house in the village.
Two encounters that began overnight in Jammu had dragged into the morning. This included one in Doda where five soldiers and a special police officer (SPO) were injured in an attack on an army post. The target of the militants apparently was the Indian Army’s Temporary Operating Base. “In Chattergala (Doda), an exchange of fire took place. The Army’s 4 RR and the J&K Police checkpoint came under attack by terrorists. The exchange of fire is on in the area,” Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu zone, Anand Jain, said.
In a separate incident, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Anand Jain, who reached Kathua to supervise the anti-terrorist operation, told reporters.
He said terrorists opened fire on a joint party of police and Rashtriya Rifles in Chattergala pass in Doda district. “A gunfight has begun between terrorists and security forces in the higher reaches of Doda district but there was no immediate report of any casualty. The firing in the area is still going on and further details are awaited,” Mr Jain said.
ADGP Jain also called the Kathua attack a “fresh infiltration” and pointed at Pakistan without naming the country. “It is our hostile neighbour who always tries to damage the peaceful environment in our country. This (Hiranagar Terror attack) appears to be a fresh infiltration,” he said.
Sharing details about the Kathua operation, ADGP Jain said, “Two terrorists who appeared to be freshly infiltrated (from across the border) surfaced in Saida Sukhal village around 8 pm and asked for water from a household. Seeing them the villagers got suspicious and raised a hue and cry. The terrorists got panicked and tried to rush out firing indiscriminately during which a passer-by Omkar Nath was hit by bullets on the hand. As soon as information was received, a police team headed by sub-divisional police officer and Station House officer rushed to the village.”
“One of the terrorists tried to hurl a grenade at the police party and was killed in the exchange of fire, while the second terrorist escaped into the village. The officials said an AK assault rifle and a rucksack were recovered from the possession of the slain terrorist whose identity and group affiliation were being ascertained. Mr Jain asserted that only one civilian was injured and he and his wife had been evacuated to a hospital.
Police and security forces then engaged in an operation to track down the terrorist who hid in the village. After 15 hours, he was killed. The police said with the assistance of the CRPF, they cordoned off the area and conducted house-to-house search and finally could kill him around 3 A.M. However, during the operation the CRPF jawan Kabir Dass, who hails from Madhya Pradesh, sustained bullet injuries and died in the hospital during treatment, the police said.
Kabir Dass had rejoined duty only eight days back after completing his leave, his family members in Madhya Pradesh said on Wednesday. Dass’s mortal remains will be brought to his native village, Pulpul Doh, under Bichhua tehsil in Chhindwara district on Thursday for cremation, family sources told reporters. “Kabir Dass got married four years ago. He resumed duty only eight days back,” a family member said.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he was in constant touch with top civil and police officials in the district, which is part of his Udhampur parliamentary constituency, and a local villager whose house was attacked by the terrorists. “I am in continuous online contact with DC (deputy commissioner) Kathua Sh Rakesh Minhas in the wake of the terrorist attack on a house in village Saida in Hiranagar sector close to the International Border.
“I am also in touch with SSP Kathua Sh Anayat Ali Choudhary, who is on the spot. The owner of the house that was attacked (name not to be disclosed) is also in touch on mobile phone. Joint police and paramilitary operation is going on…,” the minister wrote on ‘X’.
“This is a national security challenge posed by hostile elements from across and instead of engaging the police in law order management, citizens are requested to assist and cooperate with the police in completing the operation logically and successfully so that the terrorists are killed and simultaneously the injured (if any) are evacuated for treatment,” the police spokesperson said.
Two days earlier, a bus on its way to the Shiv Khori cave temple came under attack in Reasi. The terrorists opened fire after the bus driver refused to deboard the passengers, but lost control and fell into the gorge, the bus company’s manager said. Nine people were killed and 33 injured in the incident. The attack was carried out on the directions of Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Abu Hamza, officials said.
