RAJOURI : Officials reported that on Tuesday, a suspected Pakistani terrorist was slain and an Army soldier was martyred in a gunfire that broke out during a search operation in a remote area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district. They claimed that during the exchange of fire, three security personnel were hurt. According to Mukesh Singh, Additional Director General of Police for the Jammu Zone, a confrontation between security forces and militants took place in Narla village. “One terrorist and an Army soldier were killed while three security personnel — two Army jawans and one special police officer — were injured in the gunfight,” he claimed.On Monday night, after spotting two people moving suspiciously, the security officers conducted a search and cordon operation in the wooded Patrada region and fired a few shots, according to the officials. However, they claimed that both suspects were able to flee the scene by utilising the darkness and dense undergrowth. They abandoned a rucksack, some clothing, and other items, which the search teams were able to find. The officials added that the search operation in the area was in progress and that the cordon and search operation had been expanded to surrounding locations, including Bambel and Narla, in an effort to find the terrorists.A representative for the Defence Department stated that a courageous Army dog, a six-year-old female Labrador from the 21 Army Dog Unit, also died in the confrontation while defending its handler. ‘Operation Sujaligala’ was led by Army dog Kent. On the hunt for the evading terrorists, Kent was in charge of a column of soldiers. It was brought down by intense enemy fire. It sacrificed its life in the best Indian Army traditions while protecting its handler, he said. This year, there have been multiple engagements in the border towns of Rajouri and Poonch that have resulted in the deaths of roughly 26 militants and 10 security officers. According to police, the majority of the terrorists were killed while attempting to cross the border into Indian territory.
