Two terrorists killed in Poonch gunbattle

JAMMU - Two terrorists have been killed in a gunbattle with the Indian Army that began two days ago, claiming an army major’s life, and is still raging in a forest in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, an official said Thursday.

The gunbattle is going on in the jungles of Beri Rakh in Mendhar area of Poonch. An Indian Army official said the bodies of the two terrorists were recovered from the Beri Rakh area, about 230 km from Jammu, Thursday. While the body of one terrorist was found in the morning, the second terrorist was killed in the shootout in the afternoon and his body found.

The army lost Major Amit Thange, 28, Tuesday night. Six of its men, including Colonel Ajay Katoch, have suffered injuries since the gunfight began.

Major Thange belonged to Chhindwara area of Madhya Pradesh. Colonel Katoch received a bullet in his neck and is undergoing treatment at a military hospital.

“Based on information regarding the presence of terrorists in Beri Rakh forests, troops of Rashtriya Rifles launched a cordon and search operation July 11. Late Tuesday night, contact was established with the terrorists and the firefight ensued,” defence spokesperson Lt Col Biplab Nath said about the operation Wednesday.

From their style of fighting, the terrorists appear to be from the Lashkar-e-Taiba, army sources said.