Kathua: A fourth policeman was confirmed dead after his body was spotted using a drone near the site of a fierce gunfight in the forested Juthana area of Kathua district, officials said on Friday. The death toll in the military operation now stands at seven, including three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants and four policemen, PTI reported.
Heavy firing and explosions continued for the second consecutive day as armed forces, comprising the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army, and CRPF, resumed the operation at first light to retrieve bodies. Two more militants are believed to be holed up in the area, the news agency reported.
The operation started on Thursday morning after police received intelligence about the presence of militants in the region. A Special Operations Group (SOG) team led the offensive, but the operation turned deadly when five policemen, including a DSP-rank officer, were trapped near a rivulet. The officer was later rescued in an injured state, while three of his personal security officers were found dead.
The deceased policemen have been identified as Tariq Ahmad of Reasi, Jaswant Singh of Hiranagar, and Balwinder Singh of Kathua. Three more police personnel, along with two Army soldiers, sustained injuries and are receiving treatment.
Officials believe the militants infiltrated from across the border in Hiranagar sector, evading an earlier cordon before being intercepted near Jakhole village, about 30km away. The search operation, involving police, Army, NSG, BSF, and CRPF, utilised drones and surveillance equipment to track down the group.
