Sarvjeet Singh
Kathua,(DD): A fierce encounter is underway between security forces and terrorists in the Panjtirthi area of Jathana, Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a senior police officer, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area after receiving specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists. As the forces moved in to verify the information, they came under heavy fire, triggering a gunfight.
Sources indicate that at least three terrorists are believed to be trapped inside a forested area. Given the intensity of the firing, additional reinforcements, including specialized counter-terror units, have been rushed to the spot to prevent any escape.
The encounter site is strategically located near the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway, raising concerns about potential infiltration or movement along key transit routes. Security forces have sealed all entry and exit points, and aerial surveillance is being used to monitor the situation.
This encounter comes just days after a similar operation in Kathua on March 27, where four policemen were killed, and three terrorists were neutralized. Authorities suspect that today’s encounter may be linked to the same militant group attempting to establish a presence in the region.
More details will emerge as the operation unfolds.(DD)