Throughout this year, Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi districts in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a series of encounters resulting in the deaths of 55 individuals, including 20 security personnel and 28 terrorists.
Rajouri alone witnessed the demise of 27 individuals, comprising 10 terrorists and 10 security personnel. In the Poonch district, 15 terrorists and 10 security personnel lost their lives, while three terrorists were killed in the Reasi district. Most of the terrorists were killed while attempting to infiltrate across the border.
Seven civilians were killed at Dangri, Rajouri on January 1 this year.
Earlier in October 2021, nine soldiers fell victim to two separate terrorist attacks in the forested region. Five Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed on October 11 in Chamrer. A JCO and three soldiers were killed on October 14 in a nearby forest. Among the deceased were three Army officers, including two captains, who were killed during an anti-terrorist operation in the Bajimaal area of Rajouri district.
Officials attributed the surge in encounters to extensive counter-terrorist operations by security agencies aimed at thwarting repeated attempts from across the border to reignite militancy in the Jammu region. These efforts also aimed to alleviate pressure on terrorists operating in the Kashmir valley.
