On 6th day of ensuing COTs, JCO & Naik attains martyrdom. Death toll raises to 9.

SHYAM SOOD
RAJOURI OCTOBER 16:– On 6th consecutive day of the ensuing Counter-Terrorists Operations (CTOs) in border districts of Rajouri & Poonch, the Army & J&K police have recovered the bodies of a JCO & a Naik along with weapons / ammunition in the evening on Saturday.
During ensuing CTOs five contacts have been established with the terrorists at Chamrer, Panghai (Rajouri) & Bhata Dhurian during the last six days in which two JCOs and seven soldiers have attained martyrdom.
The duo was missing since Thursday evening after third contact was established with the terrorists in Nar Khas forest in the general area of Bhata Dhurian under the jurisdiction of Mendhar police station.
Earlier on the first day of the launch of CTOs on October 11, contact with the terrorists was established in a forest near Chamrer village under Surankot police station, in which a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and four soldiers had attained martyrdom while they were attacked by the hiding terrorists.
In the evening hours on Thursday, a joint CTO was launched by the Army & J&K Police. A contact was established with the hiding terrorists and during a fierce exchange of fire two soldiers, namely Vikram Singh & yogambar Singh were critically injured and later succumbed to injuries while Sub Ajay Singh (JCO), and Naik Harendra Singh went missing and remained untraced till Saturday evening when their bodies were recovered.
Additional troops, including Para Commandos, were rushed to the spot, drones and helicopters were put into operation to identify the location of the terrorists and to trace the missing soldiers.
Even on Saturday exchange of heavy fire took place but no terrorists was killed.
“Sub Ajay Singh & Naik Harendra Singh were part of search operations to flush out terrorists hiding in the forested area. On October 14 communication with the duo was disrupted. Relentless operations continued to neutralise the terrorists and re-establish communication with the duo” said Devender Anand, PRO, Defence, Jammu.
He added Sub Ajay & Naik Harendra, both resident of Uttrakhand State, attained martyrdom in action in the fierce firefight.
The terrorists taking advantage reportedly of local support, jagged terrains, high undergrowth, and dense forests have managed to inflict casualties.
“We have been able to hold them (terrorists) up in a certain specific location and we would be able to neutralise them in the shortest span of time by taking all due precautions which are necessary,” said Vivek Gupta, DIG Rajouri-Poonch Police Range.
He didn’t rule out the possibility of the same group at Bhata Dhurian which has killed five soldiers at Chamrer and also support to them by few sympathisers (OGWs).
He added in the last about 2 months security forces have been tracking the presence of a group of terrorists in this area.