News Brief
J&K: Six Family Members, Including Four Women, Detained For Allegedly Aiding Militants In Kathua Encounter That Killed Four Policemen
Indian Army in an encounter in J&K. (Representative Image)
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained six members of a family, including four women, for allegedly providing assistance to the militants involved in last week’s Kathua encounter, in which four policemen were killed, The Indian Express reported.
According to their sources, the detained individuals are relatives of an overground worker already in jail for allegedly offering logistical support to militants who had previously attacked an Army convoy in Kathua’s Badnota village in 2023, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers.
Security forces have been actively tracking the militants since 23 March, when they are believed to have crossed the International Border into Saniyal village in Hiranagar sector.
The family now under detention is accused of helping them escape to the forests near Jakhole village, a move that prolonged the operation against the infiltrators.
Apart from these six, authorities had earlier picked up another six individuals for questioning in connection with the militants’ movement.
On 23 March, after crossing into Indian territory, the militants engaged in a brief exchange of fire with security forces in Saniyal before fleeing.
Four days later, a joint police and security team tracked them down in Jakhole’s forests, leading to a day-long gunfight. Two militants were killed, while others are suspected to have escaped into dense forested terrain.
Based on their 30 km movement from Saniyal to Jakhole, intelligence sources suggest that the infiltrators were likely trying to reach the Kailash tri-junction, a crucial strategic location touching Udhampur, Doda, and Kathua districts.
On Sunday (30 March) evening, militants reportedly forced entry into a house in Rajalu village, about three km from Jakhole, and demanded food at gunpoint.
However, one of the household members managed to escape and alert security forces. By the time the forces arrived, the militants had already fled.
In response, security forces have expanded search operations to the adjoining Samba district and the Billawar heights to track down the absconding militants.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Jitendra Singh visited the families of two slain policemen, Jaswant Singh and Balwinder Singh, announcing a financial aid package of Rs 70 lakh per family and government jobs for their next of kin.
Additionally, he pledged the construction of a memorial gate in their honour from his MP fund.
