Central “Joint Operation Kills Four Heavily Armed Foreign Militants – Army and Police Strike Back”

The Army reported on Tuesday that four heavily armed foreign militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces during a joint operation in the Sindhara area of Poonch district. The operation was carried out by the Army and JK Police’s Special Operation Group.

Brigadier M P Singh, Commander of the Surankote-based 6 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, stated that four AK series rifles with eight magazines and 196 rounds, as well as two 9 mm pistols with three magazines and 24 rounds, were seized from the militants. The rifles had Chinese markings, while the pistols had Pakistani markings. Brigadier Singh also mentioned that the presence of such heavily armed militants indicates an attempt to destabilize the region.

Brigadier Singh further stated that the militants would have carried out a major terror strike in the coming days if they had not been killed.

He also mentioned that the operation was part of the ongoing searches being conducted by the Army as part of Operation Trinetra over the past three months.

Providing details of the operation, Brigadier Singh explained that they received information about the movement of unidentified persons in Sindhra on July 16. Subsequently, they cordoned off the area and carried out a search-and-cordon operation on July 17 after receiving specific information about the presence of the militants near village Sindhra.

During the operation, the militants hiding in the forests near the village opened fire on the troops, who retaliated. Brigadier Singh noted that special forces were also involved in the operation to augment the efforts, and despite the militants’ attempts to break the cordon, the troops displayed superior tactical acumen in retaliating the militants’ fire.

The exchange of fire continued until 5:30 am, after which a search was carried out, leading to the recovery of the bodies of all four militants, who appeared to be foreigners.

The recent encounter brings the total number of militants killed in joint operations in Poonch district since Monday morning to six. Earlier on Monday, two infiltrators were killed, foiling a major infiltration attempt from across the LoC in the Krishna Ghati area of Poonch.

Following the killing of 10 soldiers by militants in ambushes on April 20 and May 5, the Army and police have increased vigilance and strengthened the counter-insurgency grid in Poonch district.