Ahead of PM Modi visit, 2 suicide bombers, CISF officer killed in Jammu encounter

Arjun Sharma

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Jammu, April 22

Two Pakistani terrorists on a suicide mission were on Friday gunned down during an encounter with security personnel in the Sunjuwan area of Jammu. The incident took place just two days ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the adjoining Samba district.

An officer of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was killed and nine security personnel, including two cops, were injured.

The encounter started around 4.15 am after the police got a tip-off about the presence of two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) ultras in the area, which is close to Sunjuwan Military Station.

Terrorists lobbed a grenade and fired bullets at a bus carrying 15 CISF personnel, who were on way to cordon off the area, killing Assistant Sub-Inspector SP Patel and injuring others.

The attack was repelled and the terrorists entered into a house in a nearby locality. The occupants, a woman and two children, were rescued. An encounter ensued in which both ultras were eliminated.

A satellite phone, two AK-47 rifles, 10 magazines, grenades and one under barrel grenade launcher were seized from the encounter site.

DGP Dilbag Singh the terrorists were part of a suicide squad of Pakistan-based JeM and their infiltration could be a “big conspiracy” to sabotage the PM’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir. “The slain ultras were wearing suicide vests. There is no clarity about their identity and target as yet,” the DGP said. An NIA team reached the site collect forensic evidence.

Security up for PM’s event tomorrow

• Multi-tier security has been put in place for PM Modi’s visit to Samba’s Pali village on Sunday
• This will be his first visit to J&K other than borders since the abrogation of Article 370

2 non-locals shot at

• Two non-locals, Aneekul Islam and Najamul-us-Islam from West Bengal, were shot at in Srinagar’s Nowgam area. They were shifted to hospital. Their condition is critical.