Srinagar:

An army officer and a soldier have been critically injured in a counter terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Thursday. The ongoing gun battle between the army and terrorists erupted in Poonch-Rajouri forests on Wednesday evening, four days after five security personnel were killed in action. The Jammu-Poonch-Rajouri highway has been closed due to the operation.

Officials said the encounter is taking place with the same group of terrorists who fired on a group of security personnel late night on October 10. An army officer and four other soldiers were killed in action during the encounter in Dera Ki Gali (DKG) in Surankote area of Poonch district.

“In an ongoing Counter Terrorist operation in general area Nar Khas Forest, Mendhar Sub Division, District Poonch there has been exchange of fire between army troops and terrorists during evening hours on 14 Oct 2021,” said an army spokesman.

“During the ensuing exchange of fire one JCO and one soldier have been critically injured. The operations are under progress. Update follows” he said.

The army has been chasing these terrorists for four days, but they were dodging the army by taking advantage of the high hills and forests till Thursday when they came face to face with the army.

The incident comes amid a spurt in terrorist attacks and ceasefire violations along the Line of Control with Pakistan in recent weeks.