Army’s JCO injured in encounter near LoC in Rajouri

Rajouri, Sep 14: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army sustained injuries and was hospitalised after an encounter between the Army and infiltrating terrorists near the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Pir Panjal region, the Army said.

The encounter happened in Gouchar Gap on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.

Officials said that on Saturday afternoon, Army soldiers were carrying out an area domination exercise near the Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) when they picked up suspicious movement of terrorists who were moving toward the LoC fence in an attempt to infiltrate across the LoC.

“The terrorists were intercepted and challenged. They fired at the troops. The fire was retaliated and it led to a fierce exchange of gunfire between the troops and terrorists,” the officials said.

They said that a JCO of the Army sustained bullet injuries in the exchange of fire.

The officials said that he was immediately evacuated to the nearest medical facility from where he was referred to Army Hospital Rajouri.

They said that the area had been cordoned and tight vigil was being maintained along the LoC and forward locations to track the terrorists who got engaged with troops.

Operation underway in Kishtwar

Security forces Saturday continued operation in and around Chatroo forests in Kishtwar and adjoining areas to hunt down hiding terrorists.

Meanwhile, the Army paid tributes to two soldiers who were killed in action during an exchange of gunfire between security forces and terrorists in Chatroo on Friday.

“In a solemn wreath-laying ceremony, GOC White Knight Corps laid wreath at Air Force Station Jammu to pay homage to bravehearts Naib Subedar Vipan Kumar and Sepoy Arvind Singh, who laid down their lives in service of the nation in an encounter with terrorists in Kishtwar,” the Army said, in its official statement.