Surinder Sharma
Kishtwar: A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rally in Doda, an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Chhatru area of Kishtwar, 45 kilometers away, on Friday. Two soldiers were martyred in the encounter, and two others were seriously injured. The injured soldiers were airlifted to the Command Hospital in Udhampur.
Dr. Ashraf Giri, in-charge of Chhatru Hospital, confirmed the martyrdom of the two soldiers and stated that the bodies have been sent to the concerned military unit.
The operation, codenamed Shahpurshal, was launched in the Pingnal Duggad jungle area of Nayad village in the upper reaches of Chhatru, following reports of terrorist presence. As the security forces closed in, the hiding terrorists opened indiscriminate fire, injuring four soldiers. The soldiers retaliated, and the operation is still underway. The area has been cordoned off.
A military spokesperson in Jammu stated that the operation was launched in Chhatru based on intelligence inputs, in collaboration with the police. Contact was established with the hiding terrorists at around 3:30 pm, resulting in the injury of four soldiers. The operation is ongoing, and the injured soldiers are receiving treatment at the hospital.