Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists were gunned down by the joint team of security forces in the thickly forested area of Thanamandi in Rajouri district on Friday.This is the second encounter which took place in the frontier district in the last one month.
On July 8, a joint team of security forces had neutralised three terrorists near Dadal village of Sunderbani. Two army personnel also made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty during the operation.
According to official sources, "the security forces were tracking movement of this group of terrorists using digital surveillance tools after learning about their suspicious movement in the general area". It was not clear whether the group of terrorists had infiltrated from across the line of control or shifted their base from kashmir valley to create new hideouts in the Rajouri belt.
Late last night soon after Jammu and Kashmir police received specific information about their presence in the forested area of Thanamandi a joint cordon and search operation was launched to track their footprints.
According to Additional Director General of Police, Mukesh Singh, "the first contact was established with the terrorists early Friday morning. The joint team of security forces tightened the cordon and neutralised them in the ensuing gunfight". He said the operation was still going on in the area.
According to a statement released by the office of Inspector General of Police, Jammu range on their official twitter handle, "Two unidentified terrorists were eliminated who belonged to proscribed terror outfit LeT". The security forces also recovered two AK 47 Rifles with 7 Magazines, 04 Grenades, some pouches and packets from the possession of slain terrorists.
Meanwhile, security forces continue to remain in a state of high alert in the run up to the Independence day celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir.
A joint team of security forces Friday morning recovered a packet in the general area of village Rajpura under the jurisdiction of Ghagwal police station. On thorough searches, security forces recovered 02 Pistols,05 Magazines,122 rds. & one silencer packed in the packet. The security forces are investgating whether the same was airdropped using a drone from across the border or some other modus operandi was used to smuggle arms consignment. The packet was traced at least 2 kms from the nearest International Border post.
In Mendhar area of Poonch, jawans of Special Operations Group (SOG) recovered a suspicious bag during search operation in Balnoi village of Poonch district. SDPO Mendhar ZA Jaffri said, the bag consisted of some warlike substances. "We have registered an FIR. Investigation is going on", he added.