Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, May 22:
An army soldier from Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district was killed in an ongoing encounter between security forces and terrorists in the upper reaches of Chatroo in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, Army said on Thursday.
Posting on X, Indian Army’s White Knight Corps (16 Corps) wrote, “During the ongoing operation, fierce gunfight is continuing. One of our #Bravehearts sustained grievous injuries in the exchange of fire and has succumbed despite best medical efforts. Operation is in progress.”
The contact with hiding terrorists was established this morning around 6:30 am after which a fierce gun fight broke out between forces and terrorists. The hiding terrorists fired upon the soldiers in which a soldier had sustained injuries and was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The slain soldier has been identified as Sandeep Pandurang Gaikar hailing from Brahmanwada village in Akole taluka of Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra. His killing has pushed his hometown in deep grief and mourning.
Official sources said that three to four terrorists are believed to be hiding in the dense forests of Chatroo and forces are trying to track them down.
Both the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir police have cordoned off the area, and an operation is going on. Giving details, the Army’s 16 Corps spokesman posted on X, “Op Trashi. Contact has been established with terrorists during a joint operation with @JmuKmrPolice at Chhatru, #Kishtwar today morning. Additional troops have been inducted, and operations are ongoing to neutralize the terrorists.”
The exchange of fire is going on, whereas more troops have been called to zero in on terrorists. This area has a dense forest, and an encounter with terrorists occurred in April as well. Three terrorists were killed in the April 12 encounter, and more than a month after that incident, forces have again managed to make contact with terrorists.
Joint forces have started aggressive operations against terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers in J&K. These operations were intensified after April 22, when Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists segregated tourists based on
Army Soldier martyred
religion and killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local pony rider, who tried to saving the tourists, in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.
Not all border residents have returned to their homes yet, as the security forces are still defusing unexploded Pakistan shells in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla and Kupwara districts. India agreed to a ceasefire arrived at by the DGMOs of the two countries on June 12. But, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has made it clear that the understanding will be respected only as long as Pakistan does not allow any terrorist activity on its soil against India.
