In a relentless and coordinated effort, joint operations by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), and intelligence agencies successfully thwarted an attempt to disrupt peace in the Rajouri district, marking a significant achievement under Operation SOLKI.
The operation unfolded after continuous inputs of the movement of two terrorists in the general area of Kalakot. The intelligence agencies were on high alert, working tirelessly to eliminate the threat. On the night of November 19, a confirmed input identified a high-ranking terrorist leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) known as ‘Quari,’ along with another accomplice, both active in the Rajouri-Poonch area. Immediately, coordinated joint operations were launched in the general area of Kabokot.
On November 22, at approximately 08:30 in the morning, the intelligence received further information about the presence of these two terrorists in the Kabokot area. Indian Army troops commenced a search in the dense forest, where the terrorists, aware of the approaching forces, opened fire. Sensing the imminent danger to civilians, an officer bravely pinned down the terrorists, sacrificing his life to protect innocent women and children.
The terrorists, taking advantage of the challenging terrain, attempted to break contact, resulting in an intense firefight between the terrorists and Indian Army troops. Despite sustaining casualties, the troops maintained continuous contact with the terrorists, preventing their escape. As darkness fell, more operational teams were deployed to cordon the entire area, using modern surveillance equipment throughout the night.
Search operations resumed on November 23, leading to the recovery of the body of one terrorist eliminated on November 22. The operations to neutralize the second terrorist, attempting to break the cordon, resumed at 07:40 hrs, resulting in another soldier sustaining a fatal gunshot injury. Finally, by approximately 13:30 hrs, the second terrorist was also eliminated.
Both terrorists were foreign nationals, with Qari being a highly wanted terrorist trained in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Qari, an IED expert and trained sniper, was the mastermind behind civilian killings in Dhangri earlier this year and an attack on security forces in Kandi.
A substantial amount of weapons, ammunition, and warlike stores were recovered from the terrorists, indicating their intent to initiate terror-related activities and instil fear in the civilian population. The area sanitization and search operations are ongoing, with the successful outcome attributed to the seamless synergy between the Police, Army, and other security agencies operating in the region.