IED defused in Kulgam; searches launched in Rajouri
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR/JAMMU: An unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Zachaldara area of Kupwara district on Monday, officials here said.
The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Krumhoora village in Zachaldara following information about the presence of terrorists in the area, the officials said.
The search operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists opened fire towards the security forces’ positions. One terrorist was killed in retaliatory firing and some arms and ammunition were recovered from the spot, they said.
The identity and group affiliation of the slain terrorist were yet to be ascertained.
In a related development, security forces averted a tragedy with the timely detection of an improvised explosive device (IED) in Kulgam district, officials said.
A patrol party noticed a suspicious object on the Shopian-Anantnag road at Qaimoh in Kulgam district which turned out to be an IED, they said.
A bomb disposal squad was rushed to the spot which defused the IED on the spot without causing any damage, the officials said.
Meanwhile, security forces launched a search operation after an ex-serviceman reported movement of two suspected individuals in a forest in Rajouri district, officials said.
The retired soldier noticed the suspected persons, who were dressed in black, moving towards a hilltop while he was collecting fodder for his goats from a forest adjoining Gandeh village in the Sunderbani sector, they said.
A joint party of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a cordon-and-search operation after getting the information. They were later joined by army personnel.
The operation was continuing in the forest area when last reports were received but there was no trace of the suspected persons, the officials said.