HIRANAGAR, March 23 – Indian security forces launched a large-scale anti-militancy operation in the Hiranagar area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Sunday, following a fierce exchange of gunfire with suspected militants, officials said.
The operation began in the early hours after security personnel, conducting a search in response to intelligence reports, came under heavy fire from the suspects. The encounter escalated into a prolonged gunbattle as forces worked to neutralize the threat, according to a senior security official.
“We received inputs about the presence of armed suspects in the area,” the official sources told The Chenab Times, speaking on condition of anonymity. “A thorough combing operation is underway to flush out the militants, and we are taking all necessary precautions to ensure they are apprehended.”
The operation involves a coordinated effort by police and other security units, with SP Operation Hiranagar Nasir Khan leading the police team on the ground, reports said. Senior officers have been directed to reach the encounter site immediately to oversee the response, officials added.
The rugged terrain of Kathua, located near the border with Pakistan, has long been a hotspot for militant activity, with security forces frequently conducting operations to counter insurgency in the region. Sunday’s clash underscores the ongoing tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, where authorities have intensified efforts to curb militancy.
No casualties have been officially reported as of late Sunday, and the operation remains ongoing, with security personnel scouring the area for any further signs of terrorist activity. Residents have been urged to stay indoors as the situation develops.
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