Intense Gun Battle in Kathua: A Saga of Sacrifice and Strategy

Security forces extended their search after recovering bodies of four policemen and two terrorists from an encounter in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir. The clash, beginning Thursday, saw two Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists killed. The DGP emphasized the enduring resolve of the police against terrorism.

The ongoing operation against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district intensified as security forces retrieved the bodies of a fourth policeman and two militants on Saturday. Found in the remote Ghati Juthana forest, the area has been the focus of a tense encounter that began Thursday, officials stated.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad militants, entrenched in the forested region, were involved in a standoff that claimed the lives of four officers. The Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, confirmed the fatalities while participating in a wreath-laying ceremony for the fallen officers. Despite reports of three militant deaths, he clarified the actual toll.

The search operation extended to surrounding areas as authorities sought additional members of the terrorist group. Gunfire and controlled explosions were part of tactical measures by security forces. The People's Anti-Fascist Front claimed responsibility for the violence, as the police reaffirm their commitment to counterterrorism.

(With inputs from agencies.)