Jammu/Srinagar: On Thursday, the security forces succeeded in killing eight terrorists in three separate encounter in Jammu and Kashmir.
In one of the gun battles in which three Pakistani terrorists were killed after a prolonged gun battle, 12 police and paramilitary personnel and soldiers were also injured.
While three terrorists were killed near the Line of control (LoC) in Keran sector in Kupwara district that borders Pakistan occupied Kashmir, two Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terrorists were shot dead in Sopore town and the three Pakistanis terrorists were neutralised in a 33-hour encounter in Reasi district of Jammu.
According to defence ministry sources, the soldiers noticed suspicious movements along the LoC in Dat Gali area of Kupwara and challenged a small group of terrorists trying to infiltrate into India, triggering a gun battle in which all three were killed.
Defence ministery sources said that the bodies of the three neutralised intruding terrorists kept lying close to the border fence and were yet to recovered yet.
In Sopore town of Kashmir, two JeM terrorists were killed in Arampora locality.
A police official said that the security forces, including Rashtriya Rifles, the Special Operations Group and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), cordoned off Arampora in the morning after being tipped off about the terrorists presence in the rea.
He said that as the security cordon tightened, the hiding terrorists opened fire, triggering an encounter in which three terrorists were killed.
Three Pakistani terrorists, also belonging to JeM, were killed in Reasi district after a joint operation by the security forces, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major General Arvind Bhatia said.
He said they had recently infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan in Samba sector of the international border.
The Pakistanis were killed in a 33-hour encounter in Kakriyal village near the Mata Vaishno Devi University.
Twelve security personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, were injured in the fighting.
The others injured included a Major and two para-commandos of the Army, five CRPF troopers and three policemen.
“The injured were shifted to the Narayana hospital in Katra town where doctors said all of them are out of danger,” a police officer said.
The Army, police and CRPF had tracked down the terrorists using drones, helicopters and other surveillance gadgets in the forests of Jhajar and adjoining areas.
Once the terrorists were located, the villagers were evacuated before the final assault on them was mounted.
A villager earlier told the security forces that on Wednesday night the three armed terrorists entered his home, changed their clothes, took away biscuits and water and left.