Joint forces continue search operation in Kishtwar forests after deadly encounter

KISHTWAR — Joint forces continued their search operation in the dense forests of Keshwan and adjoining areas in Kishtwar district for the fifth consecutive day on Monday.

Two Village Defence Guards (VDG) members were gunned down by militants earlier, and on Sunday, a Junior Commissioned Officer was killed during a fierce encounter in the same forest area where the bodies of the two VDG members were found by the police.

An official stated that since the killing of the two VDG members, joint forces have been conducting massive searches in the forest area.

The official added that contact with the militants was established only once, on Sunday, and after an exchange of fire lasting over four hours, an army officer was killed and three others sustained injuries.

The combing operation will continue until the militants, believed to be 3 to 4 in number, are tracked down, the official confirmed.