Searches on, bodies of 2 terrorists retrieved: Army on Kathua encounter

Jammu, Mar 29: Intensive search operation continued on Saturday in and around Sufain forest area of Juthana in Kathua district as the security forces retrieved the bodies of two terrorists, besides war-like stores.

Meanwhile, security forces also expanded Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) to newer areas to neutralise potential threats and ensure that there were no more terrorists remaining in the area.

It is being presumed that there may be some terrorists who would have been hiding in the area or would have slipped to the adjoining areas.

Presumption is in the backdrop of the fact that in Sanyal village of Hiranagar, a couple had sighted five terrorists while in Sufain encounter, so far, the bodies of only two terrorists have been retrieved.

On Friday evening, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, after wreath laying ceremony at District Police Lines, Kathua, confirmed that the terrorists involved in the Sufain encounter were part of the same group sighted in Sanyal village on March 23 and they were ‘Pakistanis’.

Talking to Greater Kashmir about the latest update on the operation in Kathua, PRO Defence Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said, “Search operation is continuing after the retrieval of bodies of two terrorists.”

Earlier, the Rising Star Corps of the India Army, which is engaged in joint anti-terrorist operation in Sufain in Kathua, confirmed the retrieval of bodies of two terrorists besides the recovery of a cache of arms and ammunition.

“Relentless operations since 27 Mar 25 have led to the elimination of two terrorists and recovery of war-like stores. The operation continues,” the Rising Star Corps posted on microblogging site X while giving an update on ‘OP SAFIYAN’ with a collage of pictures of arms, ammunition and other miscellaneous items recovered from the operation site.

Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding (GOC), White Knight (16) Corps, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva along with GOC Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) Delta Saturday visited Basantgarh area in Udhampur district to assess the ongoing security situation in the region.

“The GOC appreciated the troops for their unwavering commitment and dedication in ongoing counter terrorism operations,” White Knight Corps posted on X.