Soldier hurt in encounter with militants in Sunderbani

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Jammu: An Army man was injured in an encounter with a group of militants, suspected to have crossed over to Jammu and Kashmir from across the Line of Control, in Sunderbani area of border Rajiuri district on Tuesday night.

Army troops conducting searches in Sunderbani forests for militants who have crossed over the Line of Control from Pakistan side. A soldier was injured during an encounter with them near Daddal village on Tuesday night.

“Based on information regarding presence of a small group of suspicious armed persons near village Dadal, few kilometres from the Line of Control, search operations were launched last evening,” said Lt Colonel Devender Anand, an army spokesperson here. During night, an exchange of fire occurred in which one soldier received minor injuries and has been evacuated, he said, adding  operations are in progress.

The searches had started in Dadal village and surrounding areas after some locals informed the police about having seen two unidentified armed men wearing pithu bags on their back.

Since Sunday, following drone attack at IAF facility in Jammu in which two persons were injured and roof of a building damaged, besides subsequent drone sightings at few places during the past three days, security forces and police have been on the tenterhooks.

Jammu and Kashmir Police had on Saturday evening arrested a Lashkar operative along with nearly 5 kg IED from outside a mall on the outskirts of Jammu city and claimed to have foiled a major terror plan to cause explosion in some crowded area.