Suspected Pak Militant Killed After Attack On Village In Kathua

JAMMU: A suspected Pakistani militant was killed by security forces after the ultras attacked a village near the International Border (IB) in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday evening and injured a civilian, police said.

A massive operation is on to flush out the remaining holed-up militants who are believed to have infiltrated from across the border.

The incident in the Jammu region comes two days after militants attacked a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge, resulting in the death of nine persons and injuries to 41 others.

The militants struck Saida Sukhal village near Koota Mode in the Hiranagar sector, over 60 km from here, Tuesday evening, a police spokesperson said, adding one militant was killed during the subsequent search operation by the security forces.

An AK assault rifle and a rucksack were recovered from the possession of the slain militant whose identity and group affiliation were being ascertained, the officials said.

The operation was on when reports last came in, the spokesperson said.

A civilian identified as Bitu, who had suffered grievous injuries in one of his arms in the militant firing, was evacuated to hospital, the officials said.

Earlier, officials said police and other security forces were rushed to the village following suspicious movement of three persons around 7.45 pm.

A couple of gunshots were heard, believed to be fired by the suspected militants after some people raised an alarm, they said.

A massive search operation is on to neutralise the militants, the officials said, adding senior police officers, including Additional Director General of Police, Jammu, Anand Jain, have reached the site to supervise the operation. (PTI)