Three army personnel, including two officers holding the rank of Captains, have lost their lives in an encounter with militants in the Solki area of Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir.
The operation, initiated following a cordon and search mission, quickly escalated into a heavy gunbattle between militants and a joint force comprising the Army and J-K Police in the Bajimaal area of Dharmsal.
Earlier in the day, security forces had trapped two militants in an encounter in Rajouri’s Kalakote area, indicating a heightened state of alert in the region. The ongoing operation in Bajimaal has resulted in casualties, with several soldiers sustaining injuries during the intense firefight.
Reports suggest that the encounter is not isolated, as splinter groups affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (Jaish) and People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) have been cornered in the Gulabgarh forest areas near Bajimaal. This particular group was initially spotted on October 5, leading to the initial confrontation that has now evolved into a prolonged and intense exchange of fire.
Backup forces have been deployed to reinforce the security personnel on the ground and the heavy exchange of fire continues.
