Second day of encounter in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir

The second day of a confrontation between security forces and militants in a hamlet in the Rajouri region of Jammu and Kashmir began on Sunday.

For their own protection, the police have urged that individuals keep two kilometers away from the location of the incident.

Two to three terrorists are said to be camped out in the besieged area, according to Army PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal of Jammu, who told PTI that controlled fire has repeatedly prevented the militants’ efforts to breach the perimeter.

During a cordon-and-search operation that was initiated by police and the Army at Gundha-Khawas village in the Budhal district on Saturday, an unnamed terrorist was killed during the first exchange of fire with the security forces.

According to a police spokesman, a shootout between the two sides was ongoing at the time of the latest reports.

The official said that security force reinforcements have blocked off all terrorists’ escape routes and that measures are being made to neutralize them.

He said that the search effort was started when authorities learned of local terrorists’ movements.

The operation was started by a small police squad, which was subsequently reinforced by Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) reinforcements, the official said, adding that the corpse of the terrorist who was killed at the location of the encounter had not yet been removed.

“After making first contact, Army soldiers proceeded to the area and apprehended up to two or three terrorists, according to estimates. Since the terrain is hilly and covered with trees, more Rashtriya Rifles soldiers have been mobilized, according to Lt. Col. Bartwal.

He said that a helicopter from the Indian Air Force was used to transport special troops, and that night-capable quadcopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and sniffer dogs were also put to use.

On Sunday, Rajouri police asked residents to avoid the location of the encounter in order to prevent any casualties.

“It is for everyone’s knowledge that the operation is ongoing with gunfire exchanged in the approximate region of the hamlet of Gundha, Khawas. The caution states that visitors are urged to stay away from the area and maintain a safe distance of at least two kilometers.