Six Dead, Seven Injured in Ongoing Kathua Encounter as Security Forces Pursue Remaining Militants

Three police personnel and three militants have been killed in a protracted gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, with operations continuing to locate additional infiltrators.

The encounter in Kathua's Ghati Juthana area has resulted in the deaths of three police officers and three militants, with seven security personnel injured, including a deputy superintendent of police.
The operation, led by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and supported by the Army, BSF, and CRPF, continues as some militants are believed to still be holed up in the area.
The group of militants is suspected to have infiltrated from Pakistan, possibly using a tunnel or ravine route, and had evaded an earlier security cordon in the Hiranagar sector on March 23.
Evidence recovered from the site includes grenades, ammunition, IED materials, and other supplies, indicating logistical support for the militants' activities.
The People's Anti-Fascist Front, a proxy group linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad, has claimed responsibility for the attack, further complicating the security situation in the region.