Kathua encounter: How a joint operation by J&K police, Army, paramilitary forces killed 3 militants

Three Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel were killed, and five security personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police and a para commando, were injured in a fierce gunfight in Rajbagh, Kathua district, on Thursday. Security forces believe that three to four militants were also killed in the operation.

UAV surveillance has spotted the bodies of three to four militants, but search operations are ongoing to ensure the area is completely secure.

The encounter began earlier yesterday in Jakhole village, Ghati Juthana, when security forces closed in on militants hiding in the area. The operation was carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), the Army, and paramilitary forces, including the CRPF.

As the encounter began, reinforcements were quickly deployed. During the initial exchange of fire, SOG personnel were injured and later airlifted to military hospitals in Udhampur and Pathankot for urgent medical care.

Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, who has been camping in the area, oversaw the operation from Kathua, with Inspector General of Police Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti, assisting in coordination. Security forces used drones, UAVs, and sniffer dogs to track down the militants.

Earlier, security forces recovered weapons and supplies, including four M4 carbine magazines, two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeping bags, tracksuits, and materials for making improvised explosive devices. This suggests the militants were well-prepared for a prolonged confrontation.

This marks the fourth day of counter-terror operations in the region, following an earlier encounter in the Hiranagar sector on Sunday. Officials believe the militants killed were part of the same group that had escaped during the previous engagement after a woman, her husband, and a minor girl managed to escape their captivity while gathering firewood in the forest.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma paid tribute to the three fallen policemen. He also expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The People's Anti-Fascist Front, a proxy outfit of Jaish-e-Mohammad, claimed responsibility for the firing on the police party.