Indian forces had set a “perfect example of perseverance, clarity of thought, proper planning” that resulted in the neutralisation of several key terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) Delta, Major General APS Bal, said on Monday on the successful conclusion of the joint counter-terror operation Trashi-1.
“…We’ll keep neutralising terrorists whosoever comes in our area…In February, we have been able to eliminate six JEM terrorists and on both the extremes of our area, one in the area of Udampur and the other in the area of Kishtwar…,” Major General Bal added.
“This recently concluded operation of Trashi is the perfect example of perseverance, clarity of thought, proper planning, the vision which we had and most importantly relentless efforts of the months and integrated approach of each and every force and agency working over here and most importantly it is the perfect example of seamless coordination at all levels, at all levels from the troops working on ground from all of us sitting over here between the co-commanders, the ADGs, IGs, between the DGP and the army commander and let me tell you that everybody contributed towards the success of this operation. Decisively,” Major General Bal said.
Major General Bal said, “The way we operated in a very calm, composed, collective, collaborative manner, which is why the kind of success we achieved, especially without suffering any casualties, any harm to any of our troops, except for the brave dog Tyson, who actually initiated the operation.”
Operation Trashi-1 was launched on January 18, two days after security forces busted three terrorist hideouts in the Kathua district on January 16. Some terrorists has slipped out of the clutches of the forces and slipped away in the Kamad Nallah, Kalaban, and Dhanu Parole areas.
Following the launch, the first contact with terrorists had happened in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora on the same day. During the first exchange of fire, eight security personnel had been injured, of whom one jawan had eventually succumbed to his injuries. The second gunfight broke out in Singhpora, followed by another contact on January 24 in which forces gunned down a Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist.
Three terrorists had been killed in a joint security operation in the Kishtwar district on Feb 22.
A joint search operation was launched on the basis of specific intelligence inputs about the presence of three Pakistani terrorists in the area. The terrorists, hiding inside a mudhouse on the foothills of a hill, opened fire on the approaching troops, leading to an intense gunfight in the general area of Passerkoot in Chatroo belt, prompting joint parties including troops Army’s 11 Rastriya Rifles, J&K Police and CRPF to launch a search operation Contact was established with the terrorists earlier, and security forces re-engaged them at around 11 AM in difficult terrain.
In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists were killed. The identities and group affiliations of the terrorists were being ascertained. Security forces also recovered two AK-47 rifles and other warlike stores from the site of the encounter. The area has been cordoned off, and search operations are continuing. More details are awaited.
The Chatroo forest belt witnessed nearly half a dozen gunfights between terrorists and security forces last month, resulting in the killing of a soldier and a terrorist.