Soldier, 2 Cops Injured In J&K's Poonch As Anti-Terror Ops Enter Day 14
Officials reported that a jailed terrorist from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, who had been remanded in police custody, was also hurt in the firing, and that the injured terrorist could not be evacuated owing to the intense fire.
Srinagar: In the gunbattle between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch region, two police officers and a soldier were injured.
Officials stated that a jailed terrorist from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, who was remanded in police custody and brought to the encounter location to identify prospective terrorist routes, was also hurt in the firing. The injured terrorist could not be evacuated due to intense firing, officials said.
Terrorists opened fire on a joint search party of the Army and police within a forest in Poonch district this morning, officials said, sparking a new gunbattle in Poonch, where the anti-terror operation is on its 14th day.
They were approaching a terrorist stronghold in the Bhata Durian region when they were fired upon by the terrorists hiding there, according to authorities. Due to heavy gunfire, the terrorist, Zia Mustafa, was unable to be apprehended, according to police.
Zia, who had been held in the Kot Balwal jail for several years, was taken into custody by police on Friday and placed on a ten-day remand.
Zia, a native of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, entered 15 years ago and was imprisoned in Jammu's Kot Balwal Prison. There were rumors that he was in contact with terrorists while incarcerated.
Zia was taken to Mendhar in Poonch, ostensibly to determine the route traveled by terrorists involved in the Poonch encounter.
For the past 14 days, the Army has been involved in one of the longest and most difficult anti-terrorist operations in the region. So far, nine troops have died in the line of duty, including two officers.
The anti-terror operation in the twin border districts' forest areas began on October 11 when terrorists ambushed a search party in Poonch, killing five troops including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), followed by a gunfight in nearby Thanamandi the next day.
On October 14, terrorists struck again in Mendhar's Nar Khas woodland, killing four troops, including a JCO, while security forces combed the area for hiding terrorists.
Officials reported that drones and helicopters were used to support the marching forces, which included para-commandos, in the forest area, which was almost 20 kilometers from the Line of Control (LoC).
Officials added that ten people, including two women, have been held for questioning after it was discovered that they reportedly assisted terrorists with logistical support, including food and shelter.
