Fresh gunfight at LoC, two Indian soldiers critically injured, traffic suspended on NH

Cross Border Terrorism

Jammu: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army and a jawan were critically injured today in fresh gunfight with a group of heavily-armed terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, three days after five soldiers lost their lives in an encounter in the sector.
The encounter erupted in Nar Khas Forests of Mendhar Sub Division this evening, Army officials said.
There were reports about death of a JCO and a jawan in the gunfight but no official confirmation by the Army.
"In the backdrop of ongoing anti-terrorism operation in Dera Ki Gali forest area along RajouriPoonch boundaries, joint teams of security forces this evening laid cordon and search operation in Bhatadhurian forest of Mendhar near Dera Ki Gali," an official said.
They said that contact was established between the security forces and terrorists and a fierce gun battle triggered, adding that one JCO of the Army and a soldier sustained critical injuries and were evacuated to a nearby hospital.
"The operation is going on and the entire area is under tight cordon," sources said. On October 12, five soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed in an exchange of gunfire with heavily-armed terrorists in a forest area of Dera Ki Gali on the PoonchRajouri border.
The Army continued its extensive search operations to track down the group.
Meanwhile, traffic has been suspended on the Rajouri-Poonch highway as a precautionary measure in view of ensuing gun battle, the officials said.