INDIA. MUMBAI: Two terrorists and a CISF inspector was killed, and security personnel was injured, in an encounter on Friday, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Samba in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) S P Patil was killed. Five others were injured when terrorists attacked a bus carrying 15 CISF personnel going for morning shift duties at about 4.25 hrs near Chaddha Camp in the Sunjwan area of Jammu on Friday. The terrorists fired at the bus and lobbed grenades injuring ASI Patil and others. Patil succumbed to injuries while others were admitted to the local hospital.
The CISF averted the terrorist attack, retaliated effectively, and forced the terrorists to run away. After that, the terrorists took shelter in the house of a resident. Later they attacked CISF personnel while going for an ongoing cordon and search operation.
The gunfight began when terrorists opened fire on the search party. In the retaliatory firing, two terrorists were killed. They were identified as Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants wearing fidayeen (suicide attackers) vests, whose aim was to inflict maximum damage on forces. Defense PRO Colonel Devendra Anand, Jammu, told the Transcontinental Times that the J & K Police carried out the encounter, and armed forces were coordinating with police and other security forces.
Dr. Anil Pandey, DIG Operations, CISF, told the Transcontinental Times that while ASI Patil was killed, five others were injured, one grievously in the attack. He added that our 13 companies are deployed in law and order support duty across J&K.
“DG CISF and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of #Braveheart ASI S P Patil, who laid down his life while bravely fighting terrorists @ Jammu. Your indomitable courage and selfless sacrifice would remain an abiding source of aspiration for us. We stand with the aggrieved family,” CISF said in a tweet.
Director-General of Police (DGP), J&K Dilbag Singh, said that the slain militants were tasked to carry out a significant suicide strike to sabotage the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both the militants were foreigners and were assigned to either target a security camp or engage many security forces to inflict maximum causalities.
Acting on the information about the presence of militants in the Sunjwan area, a cordon was laid by the police and CISF personnel, and the militants’ bid was foiled. As of now, there are no inputs to suggest that the slain militants were planning to attack the PM’s upcoming rally at Samba on April 24.
“Three AK-47 rifles, grenades, magazines, eatables, medicines, energy drinks, etc., were recovered from the militants. These are typically found on fidayeen. Since they had no old history, it seems they had infiltrated recently to carry out a big strike,” the DGP Singh added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Palli Village in the Samba district on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Diwas on Sunday. Over 700 panchayats across the country will be connected virtually to the primary function at Palli Panchayat. On occasion, the PM will address over 30,000 J & K rural bodies members. He is also scheduled to launch the industrial development projects with an investment of Rs 70,000 crore.
He will also inaugurate a 500 KV solar project to provide clean electricity to 340 odd households. The plant has been set up under the Gram Urja Swaraj program by a Public Sector Undertaking functioning under the Scientific and industrial research department.
