Army JCO Loses Life in Encounter with Terrorists in J&K’s Kishtwar; 3 Soldiers Injured

Jammu: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of Army's special forces laid down his life on Sunday, while three more soldiers were injured in a gunfight with terrorists in a remote forest area in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, officials said.

operation comes amid an intensified hunt underway since killing of two Vill Defence Guards (VDGs) recently. Army identified fallen hero as Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para and saluted his supreme sacrifice.

encounter broke out around 11 am when joint search parties of Army and police intercepted terrorists in Keshwan forest, a few kilometres from spot where bullet-riddled bodies of VDGs Nazir Ahm and Kuldeep Kumar were found. A massive search operation was launched in forests of Kuntwara and Keshwan on Thursday evening after terrorists abducted and killed VDGs.

Army's Jammu-based White Knight Corps said in a post on X, "Based on specific intelligence input regarding presence of terrorists, a joint operation was launched by security forces in general area Bhart Ridge, Kishtwar. This is same group which h abducted and killed 02 (two) incent villrs (vill defence guards). Contact was established and firefight ensued." officials said four Army personnel, including JCO, were injured in initial gunfight and evacuated to a hospital, where condition of three of m was stated to be "critical". JCO later succumbed to injuries.

"GOC (General Officer Commanding) White knight Corps and all ranks salute supreme sacrifice of braveheart, Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (SF). Sub Rakesh was part of a joint CI (counter-insurgency) operation launched in general area of Bhart Ridge Kishtwar. We stand with bereaved family in this hour of grief," Army said in its latest tweet.

Earlier, a police spokesperson also confirmed that an encounter was underway with terrorists responsible for killing of two VDGs. "Three or four terrorists are believed to be trapped in area," official said. officials said a massive search operation was going on till last reports were received.