CASO triggers encounter in Kathua forests

Jammu, Jan 7: A team of the Special Operation Group (SoG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and terrorists exchanged gunfire during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) launched over intelligence inputs of suspicious movement in Kamadh Nallah of Kathua district.

Reinforcement of forces was rushed to the spot, and the area has been cordoned to prevent the escape of terrorists believed to be two to four in number.

Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tutti said that a team of SOG of Kathua engaged terrorists in the forest of Kamadh Nallah of Kathua district.

The area falls under the jurisdiction of Bilawar Police Station.

The IGP Jammu said that teams of SOG were relentlessly engaging terrorists despite darkness, thick vegetation, and treacherous terrain.

He said that teams of the CRPF are also part of this joint operation.

The area is located adjacent to Kog-Mandli in Billawar tehsil, where a two-day encounter took place in September 2024 in which a Head Constable of J&K Police, Bashir Ahmad was killed while two officers - Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) Sukhbir Singh and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Niaz Ahmad - were injured when terrorists attacked a joint security search party.

A terrorist, suspected to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit, had also been killed in the encounter.

A grenade launcher, some grenades, and other materials had been recovered from the possession of the killed terrorist.