3 terrorists killed in Gandoh encounter; Constable injured

Jammu, June 26: Three unidentified terrorists were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Bajaad village of Gandoh area in Doda district on Wednesday.

Encounter began after a specific input about the presence of terrorists hiding in a kachcha house.

A police Constable also sustained injuries during the intense firefight.

Meanwhile, security forces recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition, including automatic assault rifles. Search operation was currently underway.

Additional Director General of Police Jammu Zone Anand Jain monitored the operation along with DIG Doda and SSP Doda.

“After an intense firefight, three hardcore terrorists have been neutralized in a joint operation of Indian Army and JKP. A large cache of warlike stores, including automatic assault rifles, has been recovered. Operations are currently in progress,” White Knight Corps posted on ‘X’ about the operation named “Op Lagor.”

Earlier during the day, it posted, “Based on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation of the Indian Army with JKP was launched in the Gandoh, Bhaderwah sector. Contact has been established with the terrorists and firefight is in progress.”

Later in the evening, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu zone Anand Jain, sharing a brief account of the operation during a joint press conference, said, “As soon as we got information about the terrorists hiding here in this area, Jammu and Kashmir Police along with security forces launched a joint search operation. During the search operation, the house, where they were hiding, was zeroed in and it was cordoned. In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists were killed.”

“A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered from their possession. Police investigation in this case was continuing,” he said.

ADGP stated that all three terrorists were unidentified and the investigation was underway to ascertain their identity.

In response to a question as to how many terrorists were still hiding there, Jain stated that searches were still going on in the area. “During investigation, it would also be ascertained as to who facilitated or helped terrorists in any manner,” ADGP said.

When asked if the slain terrorists were part of the same group which was involved in terror attacks on June 11 and 12, Jain said, “This aspect is also being investigated whether it is the same group or a different group.”

He stated that three to four groups (of terrorists) were active in the area and they belonged to a freshly infiltrated group. On the whole, there were six to seven groups active across the Jammu zone, he informed.

“This is a great success for all of us as people were living under constant fear. Earlier, there’s no presence of terrorists here. I’m sure that after their (terrorists’) neutralisation, people would heave a sigh of relief,” ADGP said.

ADGP said that police, along with security forces, were working in perfect synergy to ensure fool proof security and area domination as a part of a comprehensive package. “We are working in a comprehensive manner to ensure security and area domination. Adequate police presence is there. There are police pickets,” he said.

Regarding recovery from the slain terrorists, ADGP informed that two M-4 carbines and one AK-47 were recovered besides grenades and other ammunition.

“Some arrests have been made and further investigation is underway,” he said.

Brigadier Sunil Mishra, Commander 9 Sector RR too addressed the media.

Earlier, the police, in its official statement, said that based on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation of J&K Police and security forces was launched in the Gandoh, Bhaderwah sector of district Doda. Contact was established with the terrorists. “In the ensuing firefight, three terrorists were neutralized.  A Constable was injured in the Gandoh encounter,” police added.

Notably, Doda district witnessed two encounters on June 11 and 12, in a span of a few hours.

Six security personnel were injured in a fierce exchange of fire at Chattargala on June 11 and a police Constable was injured when another encounter erupted between security forces and terrorists at Kota Top in Gandoh, Doda on June 12 evening.