In a significant development following a recent encounter in Poonch district, security forces conducted a joint search operation on Thursday, recovering an assortment of items that shed light on the preparedness and origin of the two terrorists killed during an infiltration bid on Wednesday.
Among the items recovered were assorted eatables, prominently bearing Pakistan’s markings, along with a cache of arms and ammunition, clothing, and medicines. These findings suggest that the infiltrators were well-equipped for an extended stay in the challenging terrain of the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir without relying on local support.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Suneel Bartwal, the Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) in Jammu, the recovered items included gloves, medicines, water-resistant and warm clothing, night vision devices, and other essential supplies. This indicated their readiness for “forest survival” in the rugged terrains without needing assistance from local resources.
The encounter unfolded when the duo was observed crossing the Line of Control on Tuesday night in the Mandi sub-sector of Poonch. In response, a coordinated search operation was initiated by the Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police to track down the terrorists. When cornered, the two militants initiated indiscriminate firing on the security forces, triggering a fierce gunfight that resulted in their demise.
The subsequent search operation at the encounter site, which continued until Thursday, yielded a substantial quantity of arms and provisions, further affirming the identities of the infiltrators as Pakistani nationals who had entered Indian territory prepared for an extended stay. The recoveries included an AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines, a pistol with two magazines, grenades, night vision equipment, and various clothing items such as rain jackets, shoes, gloves, trousers, jackets, windcheaters, shawls, and more.
Additionally, the search revealed a diverse array of supplies, including Pakistan-made medicines and a variety of eatables like apples, dates, salt, namkeens, almonds, biscuits, parathas, and chutney. Other items discovered ranged from personal belongings like watches, knives, lighters, and bandages to essential tools such as wire-cutters, batteries, and syringes.