Four Pakistani militants killed in Poonch, arms and ammunition recovered
Poonch, July 18, KNT: Four unidentified militants were killed by the joint forces in a joint operation in the Sindhara area of Sarankote Poonch. The first engagement between security forces took place at around 11:30 pm yesterday after which drones were deployed along with other night surveillance equipment, Army said on Tuesday morning.
Army said that at dawn on Tuesday, the encounter started again with a heavy exchange of fire between the security forces and militants. Indian Army’s Special Forces, Rashtriya Rifles and J&K Police troops along with other forces were part of the operation.
The militants killed in the operation were foreign militants.
White Knight Corps in a Tweet said that under Operation Trinetra II in a major Cordon and Search Operation, acting on specific intelligence four militants were eliminated in a Joint Operation by Indian Army & Jammu Kashmir Police near Sindarah and Maidana villages in tehsil Surankote of #Poonch district. Along with the militants four AK 47, two Pistols & other war-like stores were also recovered. It further said that elimination of these militants has avoided major militant initiated incidents in #Rajouri & Poonch area. Search Operations are still in Progress.
Later while addressing a press conference, Commander, 6 Sector of the army’s Rastriya Rifles Surankote said that the group had been operating in Surankote for a long time and was disturbing peace in the region.
He said two incidents carried out by them had emboldened them and now they have been neutralized and thus peace will obviously prevail.
The Army commander who was flanked by SSP Poonch said that after killing the militants a search operation was launched in the area. “The search resulted in the recovery of a large quantity of arms and ammunition comprising four AK 47 Rifles with Magazines and rounds. Two 9 mm Pistols with magazines and rounds were also recovered.”
The Army commander said that the neighboring country is hell-bent to disturb peace in this part of Jammu and Kashmir and infiltration attempts are being made.
He said four militant attacks since 1 January this year in which 9 civilians and 10 soldiers were killed at Dhangri, Bhata-Dhurian, and Kandi forest, and “now executing infiltration bids clearly indicate that Pakistan is trying its best to revive militancy and disturb peace in the Rajouri-Poonch border districts of Jammu region.”
He said it was a successful operation. The Army commander added that the counter-infiltration grid is robust and every attempt to infiltrate in this part will be foiled. [KNT]
