After days of combing, the Army finally managed to neutralise two terrorists deep inside the jungles of Panar in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. A soldier was also martyred in the encounter.
The operations started on June 9 when troops were attacked by the terrorists in the forest area. The area was immediately cordoned and operation to flush out the terrorists was launched.
Since the area was huge with dense forests, the attackers managed to change locations to avoid contact with forces. However, army plugged all entry and exit routes to prevent their escape.
Sources said there were multiple contacts (gun fights) with terrorists in all these days. However, after days, troops achieved success on Thursday when they neutralised two terrorists. However, the army lost one of its soldiers.
“Two terrorists killed and one army soldier martyred in the ongoing operation in Panar forests”, said Colonel Rajesh Kalia, defence spokesman at Srinagar.
The killing has come on the day when crucial security review meeting is to be held in New Delhi to take a decision whether to extend the Ramzan ceasefire beyond Eid.
Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Shesh Paul Vaid will represent the state in the meeting.
“There were many terrorist incidents particularly grenade attacks. Two of our cops were killed yesterday. But other parameters have shown an improvement. Stone pelting, killing of civilians and killing of security force personnel has decreased. We will give our inputs. Let us see”, Dr Vaid told News Agency.
Figures reveal that since Ramzan ceasefire on May 17, there have been 53 militancy related incidents across Kashmir, in which 33 people including 24 terrorists, four civilians and five security men were killed.
Of the total terrorists, 22 were killed near the Line of Control (LOC). The slain terrorists were either newly infiltrated or were trying to infiltrate from the other side of the LoC. Since the ceasefire is not applicable to the counter infiltration grid, therefore army carried out its operation against the infiltrators on the LoC.
Terrorists have carried 18 grenade incidents since the ceasefire in which 46 people including 17 security men were injured. Terrorists have looted two banks and snatched six rifles from the cops besides carrying out series of standoff attacks targeting the security forces.
On June 7, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a security review meeting in which Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti strongly advocated the extension of the Ramzan ceasefire.
Prasanta Patnaik