Kashmir Impulse Desk

Rajouri, May 23

A gunbattle broke out between security forces and suspected militants in Rajouri district of Pir Panjal region on Friday after a joint operation was launched on specific intelligence inputs, officials said.

The encounter began in the Gambhir Muglan area of Rajouri during a search operation involving the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force.

The operation, codenamed Op Sheruwali, was launched following information about the presence of militants in the area, officials said.

Contact with the militants was established at around 11:30 a.m., triggering an exchange of fire.

“A gunfight ensued after contact was established with terrorists in the general area of Gambhir Muglan in Rajouri during an intelligence-based joint operation conducted along with J&K Police and CRPF,” officials said in a statement.

Security forces have cordoned off the area to prevent the militants from escaping, they said.

The operation was continuing at the time of filing this report, with further details awaited.

The Rajouri-Poonch belt has seen repeated anti-militancy operations in recent years amid attempts by militants to infiltrate and establish hideouts in the region’s mountainous terrain.