Rajouri Gunfight: Two soldiers killed, Para officer among four injured, operation on

SRINAGAR — Two soldiers were killed and a Para officer is among four who received bullet injuries in an encounter that broke out between militants and security forces in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday morning, sources said.

Reliable sources told the news agency KDC that the militants triggered an explosive device in retaliation in the gunfight. The army team has suffered two fatal casualties with injuries to four soldiers. A Para officer (Major) is among those who received bullet injuries and have been evacuated safely. The officer identified as Major Himanshu is said to be in ‘stable’ condition, they said.

Earlier, a gunfight broke out between security forces and militants at approx 0330 hours when 09 Para was on ambush from the last two days at Nandan Bridge, Kesari Hill, they said.

“Indian Army columns have been conducting relentless intelligence-based operations to flush out a group of terrorists involved in an ambush on an army truck in Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in Jammu region,” the army said in a statement.

They said that on specific information about the presence of militants in the Kandi forest in Rajouri sector, a joint operation was launched on May 3, 2023. At about 0730 hours on May 5, 2023, a search team established contact with a group of militants well entrenched in a cave. The area is thickly vegetated with rocky and steep cliffs.

“The terrorists triggered an explosive device in retaliation. The army team has suffered two fatal casualties with injuries to four more soldiers including an officer,” it said, adding that additional teams from the vicinity have been directed to the site of the encounter. The injured personnel have been evacuated to Command Hospital Udhampur.

“As per initial reports, a group of terrorists are trapped in the area. There is a likelihood of casualties in the terrorist group. The operation is in progress. Further details are being ascertained,” the statement added.