Two Army personnel were killed and two others injured in an encounter with terrorists in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district on Friday evening. The incident comes on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to adjoining Doda district,…

Two Army personnel were killed and two others injured in an encounter with terrorists in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district on Friday evening.

The incident comes on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to adjoining Doda district, where he is scheduled to address a public rally on Saturday.

The gunfight broke out when a joint team of the Army and police, acting on a tip-off, launched a search operation in Chatroo, sources said. The two soldiers who were killed in action have been identified as Naib Subedar Vipan Kumar and Sepoy Arvind Singh.

In an initial statement, Jammu-based White Knight Corps said, “Based on intelligence inputs, a joint operation with the J&K Police was launched at Chatroo in Kishtwar. A contact was established with terrorists at 3.30 pm. In the ensuing firefight, four Army personnel have been injured. The operation is on.” Later, two of them succumbed to their injuries. The police said, “An exchange of fire has taken place between security forces and hiding terrorists at the Pingnal Dugadda forest area.”

The sources said at least two or three terrorists were present in the forest area where the encounter took place. The security forces believe the ultras were equipped with at least one M-4 carbine and steel bullets. Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban in the Jammu region are set to vote on September 18.