Jammu, Sept 29 (KNO): A terrorist was killed in an ongoing operation in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Sunday, taking the death toll in the incident to two, officials said.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the body of the terrorist was recovered from the scene of the encounter at Kog-Mandli in Billawar tehsil this afternoon, the officials said. A massive search operation is underway in the village for the second day.
DGP J&K, R.R. Swain, has expressed deep condolences over the martyrdom of HC Bashir Ahmad of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, who laid down his life during an encounter with foreign terrorists in Kathua district.
In his message of sorrow, the DGP assured Bashir Ahmad’s family that the entire police force stands firmly behind them and will continue to offer full support in the future. While acknowledging that the loss of Bashir cannot be undone, he pledged that the police force would avenge his martyrdom. DGP Swain praised the bravery of HC Bashir, who fearlessly defended his community and country, delivering a strong blow to the terrorists with his LMG before succumbing to his injuries. The DGP also extended his prayers for the swift recovery of other injured personnel.
Meanwhile, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Anand Jain said the search operation was launched in the village on Saturday following information about the presence of three to four foreign terrorists. A policeman was killed and two officers injured Saturday evening when terrorists opened fire on a joint security search party in the village. Talking to reporters near the scene of the encounter, Jain said an information was received about the presence of terrorists in the area and subsequently an operation was launched, leading to an exchange of fire.
He added that The whole area is under tight security cordon and an operation is underway to neutralise the three to four foreign terrorists hiding in the area, he said. He said the presence of terrorists was reported in a house and subsequently an operation was launched which is underway. Asked about the interception of the terrorist group ahead of the third phase of polls on October 1, the police officer said the operations against terrorists are going on and will continue.
“We are getting continuous information about terrorists and subsequently conducting operations with an endeavour to neutralise them as soon as possible,” he said.
He said adequate security arrangements have been put in place in all poll-bound areas to ensure that there is no terror-related incident and violence-free third phase.
Besides Kathua, the third phase covers Jammu, Udhampur and Samba districts in Jammu region and north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.
J&K DGP R.R. Swain paid tributes to HC Bashir Ahmad, vows support to family—(KNO)