On 4th day of Counter Terrorist Operations JCO and soldier attains martyrdom.

SHYAM SOOD
Rajouri, October 14:-‘During the last four days, seven soldiers, including two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and five soldiers have attained martyrdom in ensuing Counter-Terrorist Operations in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
On Thursday evening another contact was established with the group of terrorists in Nar Khas forest near Bhatadurian village under Mendhar police station in Poonch district.
In the exchange of heavy fire, a JCO and two soldiers were critically injured and later JCO and a soldier succumbed to critical injuries.
Pertinent to mention that on October 11, after intelligence inputs a contact was established with the terrorists in a forest near Chamrer village( in Poonch district) situated on the boundary of Rajouri-Poonch districts.
“During the exchange of fire five soldiers, including a JCO were injured critically and succumbed to injuries in the nearby medical facility. The terrorists managed to escape.
Since October 11, the Army and J&K Police have cordoned off the entire area and on Thursday evening another contact was established with the terrorists in which a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and a soldier have attained martyrdom.
The vehicular movement on the Jammu-Poonch highway has been restricted and was diverted from Mendhar side to Surankot and Poonch.
On the first day of the encounter, a JCO and 4 soldiers have attained martyrdom in forested areas near Chamrer village under Surankot police station in Poonch.
After the initial contact and martyrdom of 5 soldiers, the additional troops from different locations were rushed to the targeted area and the entire forested belt under Thanamandi (in Rajouri) and Mendhar & Surankot tehsils was cordoned off to eliminate the terrorist group.
On Thursday evening during a search of the general area of Bhatadhurian along Jammu-Poonch highway a contact was established with the terrorists in the Nar Khas forest.
‘In an ongoing Counter-Terrorist operation in general area Nar Khas forest, Mendhar sub-Division, Poonch district there has been exchange of fire between the Army troops and terrorists during evening hours on Thursday and one JCO and one soldier have been injured critically” said Lt Col Devender Anand, PRO defence and added operations are under progress.
Sources said A JCO and two soldiers were injured critically and later JCO and Jawan succumb to injuries and attained martyrdom.
According to unconfirmed reports they have been identified as Ajay Kumar (JCO) and Vikram Singh.
During the last four days in the ensuing encounter that has been spread to large areas in Rajouri & Poonch districts, two JCOs and five soldiers have sacrificed their lives for the country.
Whether the group of terrorists has recently infiltrated or came from Kashmir Valley after mounting pressure of the forces in Kashmir, is not clear.
However, while interacting with the reporters on Tuesday, Vivek Gupta, DIG, Police, Rajouri-Poonch Police Range has said that the terrorists involved in the attack on security forces that killed five army personnel were present in the area for two to three months.