A gun battle in the forested areas of southern Jammu region led to the deaths of at least four police officers and two suspected rebels. As per the Indian army’s Rising Star Corps, relentless operations lead to the elimination of two terrorists. Bodies of three policemen and two militants were spotted in the forest. Arms and ammunition recovered from the area include two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, empty shells, and magazines of assault rifles.
Citing an official who requests anonymity, the Reuters news agency reports the recovery of bodies and weapons from the area. This preparedness for periodic violence reflects decades of conflict between rebel groups and security officials in the region.
In the first half of 2024, such fighting resulted in the deaths of at least 14 security personnel and 30 in 2023, according to government data. The most recent clash occurred near the city of Kathua, southern Jammu, close to the Pakistan border after a police foot patrol was ambushed. Nalin Prabhat, the police chief, accused rebels of crossing from Pakistan, without giving further details.
Consequently, Prabhat had declared that authorities will not rest until such activities from their neighbors are stopped. The region of Kashmir remains a focal point of conflict between India and Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of sending fighters across the militarized unofficial border in Kashmir to attack Indian security forces, a charge that Pakistan denies, claiming support for Kashmir’s self-determination rights.
Rebel groups in the region have fought for self-determination or merging with Pakistan. After the Indian government ended Kashmir’s semi-autonomy in 2019, curbing dissent, civil liberties, and media freedoms, Kashmir experienced increased counterinsurgency operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi supported the decision to revoke partial autonomy for the region. Modi stated that the constitution of Dr. Ambedkar, a key figure in shaping the Indian constitution, will apply exclusively in Kashmir and no power can restore its previous autonomous status.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/29/four-policemen-two-suspected-rebels-killed-in-india-administered-kashmir?traffic_source=rss
