Two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants, including one Pakistan national believed to have previously carried out attacks in Rajouri’s Dhangri and Kandi, were also killed in the gunbattle, the Army said

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants, including a Pakistan national believed to have previously carried out attacks in Rajouri’s Dhangri and Kandi, were killed in an encounter with the Indian Army. The gunbattle took place in the Bazi Mal Upper forests, under the jurisdiction of Dharamsal police station in Rajouri’s Kalakote subdivision.

The Army has identified the slain soldiers as Captain M V Pranjal, Captain Shubham Gupta, Havildar Abdul Majid, Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht, and Paratrooper Sachin Laur. These brave soldiers lost their lives while engaging with the militants.

One of the militants killed during the encounter was named Quari, a Pakistan national. According to Lt Colonel Suneel Baratwal, Army PRO, Quari is believed to have carried out the Dhangri and Kandi attacks that resulted in the deaths of seven civilians and five Armymen earlier this year. Quari was a highly ranked militant of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group and had been active in the Rajouri-Poonch region for the past year.

Described as an expert in fabricating improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and a trained sniper, Quari was sent from across the Line of Control (LoC) to revive terror activities in the area. The Army also revealed that he had received training on the Pakistan and Afghanistan front.

Security forces had been carrying out combing operations in the area for several days prior to the encounter, following intelligence reports of the presence of five to six militants. Although Quari’s accomplices managed to escape, security forces and police recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines, three grenades, and a pouch from him.

In recent incidents leading up to the encounter, two militants had visited a house near Keri Chaddar village in the Bazi Mal area and requested food. The security forces were alerted and reached the area, but the militants had fled. On another occasion, the militants allegedly assaulted a man who refused to provide them with food.

The joint combing and search operation conducted by the Army and police on Wednesday resulted in the militants opening fire, which triggered the encounter.

With Pakistan-based militant groups making repeated attempts to revive the terror network in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, the Indian Army and police have successfully eliminated 27 militants both along the LoC and in the hinterland since the beginning of this year. Unfortunately, 16 Army soldiers have lost their lives in encounters with militants during the same period.

The continuous efforts of the security forces to counter the threats posed by militant groups and protect the lives of civilians and soldiers in the region are commendable. The Army’s successful operation against the Lashkar-e-Taiba militants is a significant blow to the terror network and a testament to the dedication and bravery of the Indian security forces..