In a series of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, five soldiers and two police officers were injured in separate encounters. On Wednesday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police released sketches of four terrorists involved in the attacks and announced a ₹20 lakh reward for information leading to their capture.
The incidents began on Tuesday when terrorists fired on a joint checkpoint of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and police at Chattergalla in Bhaderwah. The following day, a search party in the Gandoh area was ambushed, resulting in injuries to seven security personnel, including a policeman.
According to a police spokesperson, the terrorists are believed to be operating in the upper reaches of Bhaderwah, Thathri, and Gandoh. A reward of ₹5 lakh has been announced for information on each of the suspects.
Separate Encounters in Doda Leave Seven Injured
The first attack occurred early Wednesday when a group of three to four terrorists opened fire on a joint checkpost of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu & Kashmir Police in Doda’s Chattargala area on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road. The gunbattle lasted 26 hours, injuring five army personnel and a special police officer.
Later, in the Kota Top area, about 150km from Chattargala, another group of terrorists attacked a police team, injuring head constable Fareed Ahmed.
Meanwhile, another gunbattle erupted in Kathua late Tuesday night, continuing into Wednesday morning. This encounter resulted in the death of a Central Reserve Police Force jawan, injuries to six security personnel and a civilian, and the neutralization of two terrorists.
Senior police officers have noted a shift from “resident terrorism” to “foreign terrorism,” further Direcor General of Police, RR Swain added, indicating that fewer local youths are joining terror ranks, while foreign terrorists, estimated at 70-80, are infiltrating with arms and ammunition. Additional Director General of Police, Anand Jain pointed to the ongoing attempts by a “hostile” neighbor to destabilize the region.
Reasi Terror Attack: Sketch Released
In a related incident, police released a sketch of a terrorist involved in an attack on a passenger bus in Reasi district on Tuesday night and announced a ₹20 lakh reward for information. On June 9, terrorists fired on a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, causing the bus to plunge into a deep gorge. The attack resulted in the deaths of nine people and injuries to 42 others.
