Two army officers and three jawans were killed in action during a two-day gunbattle with terrorists in the Kalakote region of Jammu. The operation resulted in the elimination of two Pakistani terrorists, one of whom was a Lashkar-e-Taiba sniper and explosives expert. The dense, low visibility forests of the Pir Panjal range and the uphill terrain posed significant challenges for the army during the encounter.
According to information accessed by NDTV, the army faced a harrowing situation with extremely limited visibility, making it difficult to locate and engage the terrorists. The terrorists took cover behind boulders on higher ground and fired upon the army from their concealed positions.
Sources revealed that the terrorists had been on the run since November 19 and were hiding in shelters called “dhoks” used by graziers in the area. The army had initiated operations in Ziarat, Mal, Gulabgarh forest, and the Solaki Area after receiving a complaint from the locals.
The first casualty occurred when Captain MV Pranjal of 63 Rashtriya Rifles was shot while gathering information from an elderly woman in the area where the terrorists were hiding. Major DS Mehra of 9 Para, determined to rescue the injured Captain, entered the area and drew fire from the terrorists, sustaining a gunshot wound. Unfortunately, Captain Pranjal succumbed to his injuries, while Major Mehra was successfully evacuated and is now recovering.
Captain Shubham Gupta, Havildar Abdul Majid, and Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht from 9 Para Special Forces went in to support Major Mehra. However, Captain Gupta and two jawans were fatally injured as they tried to tactically intervene.
In a separate incident, Pakistan attempted to drop arms to the terrorists using drones, but the attempt was foiled. The drones were carrying ammunition, which has been recovered, along with potentially pistols, according to sources.
During the operation, one of the two Pakistani terrorists was killed in the morning, but unfortunately, Paratrooper Sachin Laur was also killed in action. The second terrorist, who had been hiding behind a stone structure in the forest, was subsequently eliminated.
The Army’s 16 Corps on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, described the eliminated terrorist as the mastermind behind the “Dangri incident,” which resulted in the killing of six innocent civilians on January 23, as well as the “Kandi attacks” in the Rajouri and Poonch areas. The terrorist played a significant role in the revival of terrorism in these districts.
The army’s operation in the challenging terrain and adverse conditions showcases their dedication and bravery in combating terrorism and ensuring the safety of the region.
