The encounter, which began on Thursday, resulted in the deaths of three terrorists and an equal number of policemen, while seven others, including an officer, sustained injuries. The operation resumed on Friday morning after a night halt, with security personnel advancing cautiously to recover bodies and locate a missing policeman.

Three bodies of the terrorists were sighted using drones, while the fate of two others remains unclear, though they are presumed dead. Officials suspect that the terrorists belong to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit and had infiltrated from across the International Border in Hiranagar sector.

The People`s Anti-Fascist Front, a proxy of JeM, claimed responsibility for the encounter, intensifying concerns over cross-border infiltration. A search operation conducted earlier in the Sanyal forest of Hiranagar had yielded weapons, explosives, and survival materials, suggesting the terrorists’ preparedness.

Amidst heavy firing and explosions, reinforcements from the police, army, and CRPF were deployed, with special forces airdropped into the area. The body of a fourth policeman was discovered on Friday, bringing the total number of security personnel killed in the encounter to four.

Senior officials, including the Director General of Police and the Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone), have been overseeing operations on the ground for the past four days. The Indian Army’s Rising Star Corps commended the bravery of the fallen police personnel, honouring their sacrifice in the fight against terrorism.