6 of family, including 4 women, helped militants involved in Kathua encounter, police say
The Jammu and Kashmir Police detained six members of a family, including four women, for allegedly helping the militants involved in last week’s Kathua encounter in which four policemen were killed.
Sources said the six detained were family members of an overground worker who is already in jail for allegedly providing logistical support for militants who attacked an Army convoy in Kathua’s Badnota village last year, killing five soldiers.
Since March 23, security forces have been on the lookout for the militants who are believed to have crossed the International Border into Saniyal village in Hiranagar sector. The family is accused of helping them flee to the forests near Jakhole village.
Apart from the six of this family, police had earlier picked up six others for questioning in connection with their search for the militants.
On March 23, soon after crossing the border, the militants fled Saniyal after a brief exchange of fire with security forces.
Four days later, a joint team of police and other security forces re-established contact with the militants in the forests near Jakhole village, and in the course of a day-long operation, gunned down two militants while some others are believed to have escaped into the thick forests.
Four policemen were killed in the encounter.
Looking at the 30-km route taken by the militants from Saniyal to Jakhole, sources said they appear to be trying to proceed to the Kailash tri junction that touches Udhampur on one side, Doda on another and Kathua on the third side.
Sources said the militants, meanwhile, knocked on the doors of a local resident at Rajalu village, nearly three kilometres from Jakhole, and asked for food at gunpoint at around 7.30-8 pm Sunday.
According to the sources, one of the people in the house managed to give them the slip and inform security forces about the incident. However, by the time the security personnel reached the house, the militants had left.
Security forces have now further expanded the area of their searches to the adjoining Samba district and the Billawar heights, sources said.
Sources said the militants, meanwhile, knocked on the doors of a local resident at Rajalu village, nearly three kilometres from Jakhole, and asked for food at gunpoint at around 7.30-8 pm Sunday.
According to the sources, one of the people in the house managed to give them the slip and inform security forces about the incident. However, by the time the security personnel reached the house, the militants had left.
Security forces have now further expanded the area of their searches to the adjoining Samba district and the Billawar heights, sources said.
