Terrorist killed in counter-terror op after Army convoy ambulance targeted in Jammu's Akhnoor

One terrorist was killed in an ongoing encounter in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district on Monday.

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The gunfight started after a group of at least three terrorists attacked an ambulance, part of Army convoy, near the Assan temple in Jogwan village along the Line of Control (LoC) in Bhattal area of Akhnoor under the jurisdiction of Khour police station. “The terrorists fired some rounds at an Army ambulance. Area was cordoned off and a joint search operation was launched by the police and the Army,” Anand Jain, Additional Director-General of Police, Jammu, said.

The White Knight Corps of the Army based in Nagrota said the body of one terrorist had been recovered from the encounter site and large quantities of arms and ammunition were also found.

In a first, the Army also pressed its four BMP-II infantry combat vehicles for surveillance and strengthening the cordon around the attack site near the Assan temple, the officials said.

The Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty or BMP-II is a 1980-era Soviet Union Infantry Combat Vehicle which has 30mm fully stabilised automatic cannon, 7.62 mm Machine Gun and 4 km range anti-tank wire-guided ‘Konkurs’ Missile. It can carry seven troopers and three crew members.

It is also equipped with the Night Vision Device and Smoke Grenade Launchers system and has a maximum speed of 45 km per hour.

Helicopters were also pressed into action to locate the hiding terrorists in the jungles of the area.

The officials said the terrorists, believed to be three in number who infiltrated into India from across the border the night before, opened fire on the Army convoy around 6:30 am, targeting an ambulance. Both of its occupants, including the driver, were unharmed.

As the troops retaliated, the attackers fled towards the forest area nearby and were later located inside a basement, the officials said, adding there was an exchange of fire until 11 am when the guns fell silent.

The situation intensified around 2:45 pm again, leading to explosive sounds and heavy gunfire as the Army’s special forces and National Security Guards (NSG) commandos engaged the terrorists.

“The body of one terrorist along with weapon has been recovered. Operations are under progress,” the Army’s Jammu-based White knight Corps said in an update Monday evening.

As the troops were closing in on the trapped terrorists, an Army dog was fatally hit by a bullet during the encounter. “We salute the supreme sacrifice of our true hero—a valiant Indian Army dog, Phantom,” it said.

The operation was suspended as the darkness fell and the Army illuminated the area. Officials said the operation will resume with the first light of the day on Tuesday.

Four BMP-II infantry combat vehicles crossed the Tawi River and were strategically positioned near the site of the gunfight. Additional forces were sent to the area.

Officials said that besides an AK assault rifle, several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered from the killed terrorist, whose identity and group affiliation was not immediately known.

Some unrelated photos of three persons were also doing the rounds on social media, after which the police issued a statement. “We deny the reports regarding the encounter in Akhnoor involving the neutralisation of three terrorists. It is confirmed that no injuries were reported from the attack on the Army vehicle, and further details are being investigated. The situation remains under control, and we urge the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information. Security forces continue to monitor the area closely following the recent alerts for border districts,” the police said. —with PTI inputs