A three-member fidayeen squad, believed to be cadre of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), was eliminated by the joint team of security forces led by para commandos of the Indian Army, jawans of the special operations group (SOG) of State police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Kakriyal area along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Thursday.
A total number of 12 security personnel including five jawans of CRPF, four State policemen and three Army personnel received injuries during the operation, police said. A sub-divisional police officer was among those injured in the operation. His condition was stated to be stable. Two para commandos also received gun shot injuries while neutralising the third terrorist in the last leg of the counter.
Emerging out of his safe hideout the lone terrorist opened fire on these commandos when he came face to face with them during the combing and search operations in thickly vegetated fields of Kakriyal. In the fierce gun fight the commandos eliminated him successfully ending the 33 hour long chase in search of these terrorists.
Till the time of filing the report several teams of bomb disposal squad and others were deployed at the encounter site to completely sanitise the area and clear the same from ‘booby’ traps in the form of planted IED’s or land mines.
The local residents, who remained closeted inside their homes since early morning also heaved a sigh of relief after the operation was called off.
The security forces ensured no major collateral damage was done to the civilian houses and managed to contain these terrorists in isolated areas.