2 soldiers killed, militants injured in Rajouri encounter: Officials

Two Army officers killed, two soldiers injured in anti-militancy op in Jammu's Pir Panjal valley. PARA force part of op; militants surrounded, casualties not yet confirmed. Heightened militancy in valley since 2020

Two Army officers were killed and two soldiers were injured in an ongoing anti-militancy operation to flush out the hiding militants in a hamlet in the Pir Panjal valley’s Rajouri district on November 22. The Army said the hiding militants were also injured in the firefight.

A Jammu-based Army spokesman said the security forces launched joint operations in the Gulabgarh forest of the Kalakote area on November 19 following “specific intelligence” about the presence of militants and contact with the hiding militants was established on November 22.

“An intense firefight ensued. The terrorists have been injured and surrounded and operations are in progress, amidst acts of valour and sacrifice by own bravehearts in trying to prevent collateral damage to women and children in the highest traditions of the Indian Army,” the Army spokesman said.

Official sources said two Army officers were killed and two soldiers were injured in the gunfight. “The injured were shifted to hospital for treatment,” they added. The condition of one of the injured is stated to be “critical”.

Official sources said the security forces spotted the militants at Baji Maal hamlet of Rajouri’s Kalakote area around 10 a.m. The encounter site is dotted with trees and natural slopes. The number of militants could be up to three, they said.

However, the Army has not officially confirmed the number of casualties of the soldiers. The casualties and the exact number of militants could not be ascertained immediately.

The Army’s elite PARA force is also part of the operation. The anti-militancy operation is likely to prolong into the night as the militants kept firing till late November 22 evening at the positions of the security forces.