Jammu, January 3
A Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed today in the ongoing encounter between the Army and the terrorists, who were firing from well-fortified bunkers at Mehandar in Poonch.
According to Jammu-based PRO of the Ministry of Defence SN Acharya, SPO of the Special Operations Group (SOG) Naresh Kumar was killed in the ongoing encounter this morning.
The total death toll in the three-day long gun battle between the terrorists and the security forces in the heavily forested area of Pati Tar in Mehandar has reached seven.
On the second day of the encounter yesterday, two soldiers, including a JCO, laid down their lives, while four terrorists were gunned down.
According to intelligence sources, a top commander of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist outfit, Abu Dawood, was among the militants present in the hideout.
The Army has cordoned off the Pati Tar forest area on Thursday after it received a specific information about the presence of a group of six hardcore militants.
“The Army has gunned down four terrorists in the 40-hour long encounter that was still going on. We expect that the number of hiding terrorists could be more,” Acharya said. He said: “Today, some of the hiding militants opened fire on the party killing the SPO.”
Acharya said: “The the area is covered with dense forest and fog. Natural caves are also providing a safe hiding place for the militants.”
