Jammu, Mar 30: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday visited the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu to enquire about the welfare of security personnel who were injured in the Kathua anti-terrorist operation.
A team of doctors at GMC Jammu briefed him on the health condition of SDPO Border, Kathua, Dy SP Dheeraj Katoch, and SPO Bharat Jalhotra, and medical procedures being followed.
Manoj Sinha also met the family members of the injured and assured all possible assistance.
He directed the hospital administration to ensure the best possible medical care for the speedy recovery of the brave police personnel.
Four policemen were killed in the Kathua operation in which two terrorists were also killed.
Seven security personnel, including the SDPO Border Kathua, were injured in the operation.
The operation against terrorists has not been called off, as further areas adjoining the Safiyan village in the jurisdiction of the Rajbagh police station of Kathua district have been brought under the search operation now.
The group of five terrorists, all believed to be Pakistani mercenaries, was first seen by a woman and her husband in Sanyal village about four kilometers away from the International Border (IB).
In this encounter, the SDPO and two policemen were injured, but the terrorists fled from the area, leaving behind arms and ammunition.
The same group was later sighted in Safiyan village at Ghati Heights, where the army, police, BSF, and the NSG joined the operation.
Two terrorists were killed while five security men were martyred in the encounter in the Safiyan village area.
Earlier on Saturday, the last rites of four police personnel, killed in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, were performed with full honours at their native places with participating officers vowing to eliminate terrorism from the region.
Head constable Jagbir Singh of Mattu-Khour in Jammu’s Akhnoor and selection grade constables — Tariq Ahmad of Chamba-Panthal in Reasi, Balwinder Singh Chib of Kana Chak, and Jaswant Singh of Londi Morh in Kathua were killed in the two-day gunfight in the remote Safiyan forest area on Thursday.
Two Pakistani terrorists were also killed in the operation. While the bodies of three policemen were retrieved from the encounter site on Friday evening, Jagbir Singh’s body was recovered early Saturday, officials said.
Amidst a surcharged atmosphere and emotional scenes, thousands of people attended the last rites, raising slogans in praise of the slain policemen. Anti-Pakistan slogans were also chanted during the processions, they added.
Senior BJP leader and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, along with former J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina, attended the funeral of Constable Ahmad, who is survived by his wife, four-year-old daughter, and elderly parents.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) (Udhampur-Reasi range) Rayees Mohammad Bhat joined the ‘Nimaz-e-Jinazah’ (prayer before burial) and led the wreath-laying ceremony.
“This saga of sacrifice has been going on for a very long time. We have lost many diamonds in this fight against terrorism, and we are proud of the sacrifices,” the officer told PTI.
He said the fight against terrorism would continue till the Pakistan-sponsored menace is completely defeated.
“This is the message of our bravehearts, and it is our responsibility to take this fight to the conclusion,” the DIG said.
Bodies of Chib and Jaswant Singh were also cremated with full honours, with mourners condemning Pakistan and hailing the bravery of the fallen personnel.
The villagers remembered the slain policemen as kind-hearted individuals, vowing that their sacrifices would not go in vain.
Jagbir Singh’s body was brought to the police headquarters in Jammu, where former chief minister Omar Abdullah led the wreath-laying ceremony before it was handed over to his family. Singh, who had joined the police in 1997, is survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
J&K minister Satish Sharma, who attended Singh’s funeral, expressed grief over the loss and called for a strong response against Pakistan.
“I want to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat that the time has come when the enemy nation is strongly dealt with and given a befitting reply,” he said.
He said the policemen fought bravely against the terrorists and eliminated two of them, thus frustrating their plan to cause more damage.