One terrorist was neutralized in an encounter with security forces after some gunmen opened fire on a house in the Hiranagar area of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, official sources said.
Villagers in Saida Sukhal village of Hiranagar reported hearing gunshots and alerted the authorities after spotting two to three armed individuals in the vicinity. The gunmen allegedly fired shots before fleeing into the nearby forests.
Responding swiftly, a joint operation was launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) to track down the suspected individuals. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Jitendra Singh, who is also the local Member of Parliament, confirmed that it was a terrorist attack on a house in the village near the international border. However, the identity of the homeowner was not disclosed.
“The owner of the house that was attacked is also in touch on mobile phone. A joint police and paramilitary operation is going on,” Singh stated in his post. “One terrorist has been neutralized so far. I and my office are in constant touch and keeping a close watch on the developments.”
Singh further revealed that he was in “continuous online contact” with Rakesh Minhas, the Deputy Commissioner of Kathua, and Anayat Ali Choudhary, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Kathua, who was present at the spot.
The encounter comes just two days after a deadly terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in the Reasi district of Jammu, which claimed the lives of nine people and injured 42 others. Security officials suspect the involvement of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba in the terror strike. Extensive efforts to track down the terrorists continued on Tuesday, with 11 teams of security personnel working on the ground and a multi-directional cordon laid around the Ransoo-Pouni-Teryath belt, according to officials. The authorities have assured the public that they are closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of the region.
