Army Thwarts Terrorist Attack in Rajouri, J&K

Army troops successfully foiled a terrorist attack on a security post and a Village Defence Guard's (VDG) house in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. During the counter-operation, one terrorist was neutralized, and injuries were reported among both security personnel and civilians. The region remains on high alert as operations continue.

Army troops thwarted a terrorist attack on a security post and a Village Defence Guard's (VDG) house in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district early Monday morning, officials said.

A cordon and search operation was launched to track down the terrorists, triggering a gunfight, they added.

One terrorist has been killed while a jawan and a civilian, related to the VDG whose house was attacked, sustained injuries, according to sources.

'Terrorists attacked the house of a VDC (village defence committee member) at Gunda, Rajouri at 03:10 hours. A nearby Army column reacted and a firefight ensued,' White Knight Corps said on X. 'Operations are continuing,' it added.

The Army acted on intelligence, anticipating the threat to a VDG in a remote area in Rajouri-Reasi. Tactical teams swiftly intervened, ensuring no harm to the VDC member and his family. The firefight is still in progress, the Corps confirmed.

According to officials, the terrorists fired on the house of Parshottam Kumar, an ex-serviceman and Shourya Chakra awardee, in the Gundha area of Khawas tehsil. After the terrorists threw a grenade, the security personnel retaliated, leading to a fire exchange.

The troops foiled the attack on the Army post, and a cordon and search operation launched by security forces resulted in another round of gunfire.

'A major terror attack on an Army picket in a remote village of Rajouri was thwarted. Firing is underway, and the operation is in progress,' an Army spokesperson said.

The attack has triggered fear in the area due to the threat of the presence of terrorists. 'We are terrorised over this attack, which took place in the area after several years. It was a peaceful area. Firing started around 3 am and kept continuing,' a local woman said.

Another villager urged for the rearming of VDGs with modern weapons and communication technology to tackle terrorists in the Jammu hills.

Today's attack is the 14th incident in the Jammu region, causing the deaths of 10 security personnel, including two officers, and nine pilgrims, with 58 others injured. Five terrorists were neutralised during this period.

(With inputs from agencies.)