The joint cordon-and-search operation (CASO), involving the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was launched following specific intelligence inputs about suspected militant movement through the rugged forest terrain.
The army informed that the suspected movement of four terrorists was detected through surveillance devices on the intervening night of December 22 and December 23.
Another soldier also succumbed to injuries today, taking the death toll of Army personnel to five.
A Major and two jawans were critically injured during the fierce gunfight and they have been airlifted to the military hospital at Udhampur.
A joint operation was launched on November 19 based on intelligence inputs and contact with terrorists established today.
Lance Naik Ruchin Singh Rawat who was killed in an explosion during the encounter hailed from Garsen in Chamoli district of the state.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday expressed condolences to the bereaved family of Siddhant Chetri who lost his life during an encounter with terrorists in Rajouri's Khandi area.
