Arjun Sharma
Jammu, September 12
In yet another encounter in Rajouri district which started in Narla area of Budhal on Tuesday, one terrorist was shot dead while an army jawan was killed and a soldier and a Special Police Officer (SPO) were injured.
The joint operation against heavy armed ultras, believed to be Pakistanis, was started by Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K police.
Earlier, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Mukesh Singh said the encounter started between terrorists and security forces at Narla. “One ultra has been killed while two Army jawans and one SPO have been injured in the operation,” Singh said.
The cordon and search operation was launched after security forces opened fire on suspected ultras in the neighbouring Teryath area in Rajouri on Monday evening. Sources informed that security forces have recovered medicines, mobile chargers, water bottles among other items which terrorists left behind before escaping from the area.
Dog squad was also brought in to detect the location where ultras were hiding. “Once they reached the area, security forces had to battle heavy firing by at least two terrorists which was retaliated,” said an Army official.
An Army dog, who was instrumental in searching the spot where terrorists were hiding also came in line of fire and died.
Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, PRO Defence, said Army dog Kent was at the forefront of the operation. “Kent was leading a column of soldiers on the trail of fleeing terrorists. It came down under heavy hostile fire. While shielding its handler, it laid down its own life in the best traditions of the Indian Army. The dog was a female Labrador from 21 Army Dog Unit”.
There have been a series of encounters in Rajouri and Poonch along Line of Control (LoC) and Reasi district during the past some months. It is believed that Pakistani ultras are infiltrating from LoC to disrupt the peace in Jammu division.