Updated on Nov 23, at 7.16 p.m.

One army soldier and a terrorist were killed today in J&K’s Rajouri district, taking the toll of five army personnel in an over-28-hour-long operation.

Following specific intelligence inputs, the security forces, including the army and the police, started a joint operation in the Baji Maal area of Kalakote in Rajouri district on the morning of Nov 22.

One army major and two jawans sustained injuries in the operation.

One of the two slain terrorists has been identified as Quari of Pakistan. Sources said he was a highly motivated and trained terrorist, wanted as one of the top terrorists still active in J&K.

LeT terrorist neutralised

Sources said he was a high-ranking Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist active in Rajouri for one year and the mastermind of terrorist attacks at Dangri and Kandi in Rajouri.

Sources revealed that he was sent to revive terrorism in the region and was an expert in IEDs, hiding and operating from caves, and a trained sniper.

The five army personnel who were killed in action in the Rajouri encounter were reportedly identified as

Captain MV Pranjal

Captain Shubham Gupta

Havildar Abdul Majid

Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht

Paratrooper Sachin

Officials said that four soldiers including two captains, a junior commissioned officer (JCO), and a jawan were killed in action (KIA) on Nov 22 in the ongoing encounter in Kalakote area of Rajouri district which started on Nov 19.

“Two soldiers among the three injured succumbed to their injuries in the hospital while one was killed on the spot in the encounter in Baji area of Kalakote.

“Firing exchanges are going on at the encounter site. Senior police and Indian Army officers have reached the area to supervise the operation against the terrorists”, officials said.

Terrorist encounters, a norm in J&K

15 jawans have been martyred in terror attacks in Jammu this year, while 25 terrorists were also shot dead. This major loss of life occurred in three districts of Jammu only.

This year, 10 jawans were martyred in the attacks by terrorists on Apr 20 and May 5. It also includes five commandos. A total of 47 people including jawans, civilians, and terrorists have been killed in Jammu alone since January.

Officials said that all the terrorists who were killed in the area crossed the Pakistan border and entered Jammu. On Nov 17, an encounter took place in the Budhal area in which one terrorist was killed.

A total of 81 terrorists have been killed this year in Jammu and Kashmir, while 27 jawans have also been martyred, including senior army officers and a DSP.

(With inputs from IANS)

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