Unidentified militant neutralized with cache of weapons and explosives in Rajouri

RAJOURI — An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter that broke out in Dassal Gali area near Rajouri town on Friday. The encounter site is located only four kilometers away from Rajouri town.

Officials told the news agency KNO that the encounter broke out during a cordon and search operation launched by security forces in the area after reports of suspicious movement in the area.

“After some reports of suspicious movement in the area, a cordon and search operation (CASO) was launched in the area of Dassal and Mehari on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. Joint teams of Army and Police started searches and after inching closer to the militants, a gunfight broke out in the wee morning hours on Friday,” the officials said.

They informed that the gunfight lasted for a few hours amid heavy exchange of fire. “In the ensuing encounter, one unidentified militant was killed,” they said, adding that the body of the slain was retrieved.

The slain militant, as per officials, couldn’t be identified while as war-like stores have been recovered from his possession that includes an AK-56 rifle, seven magazines, 60 AK rounds, four hand-grenades, a biscuit, two packets of cigarettes, coconut cookies, 14 keys, some tablets, a lighter, three injection syringes, 12 detonators, an IED switch, three medicine packs, a sweater, a dress, two cloth pieces, a bag, a pouch and some eatables.

Medico-legal formalities and post-mortem examination of the militant’s body were conducted at the site by a team of doctors from GMC Associated Hospital Rajouri after which the body of the militant was shifted from the site by police.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army in an official statement issued from Jammu-based Defence spokesman said that in a joint operation by the army in coordination with police, the intelligence-based ambushes noticed suspicious movement in the forest area of Dassal Gujran near Rajouri on the night of June 1 and 2.

“On being challenged by our troops, they were fired upon, which was retaliated by our troops and sporadic firing continued throughout the night,” said an army spokesperson, adding that one militant was killed while searches were still on in the area.