One jawan killed, 9 injured in encounter in Jammu, days before Modi visit

At least one jawan and four terrorists have been killed in separate incidents near Jammu and in Baramulla, respectively, early on Friday.

Media reports said a bus carrying CISF personnel was attacked by terrorists near a Army camp in Sunjwan on the outskirts of Jammu around 4.30am. News 18 quoted sources as saying "Just near the camp they came under fire.

Grenades were lobbed and there was firing from 3 to 4 sides. Because of darkness exact number of terrorists couldn't be ascertained. The CISF men retaliated from the bus forcing the attackers to flee. It is suspected that they subsequently took shelter in some house nearby. The encounter began soon after with CRPF, police and others."

Security forces had launched a pre-dawn operation in the vicinity of Sunjwan after receiving intelligence of terrorists being in the area. ANI reported an ASI of the CISF was killed in the encounter at Sunjwan. Nine personnel were injured. Hindustan Times reported the identities of some of the injured personnel.

Reports said the operation was still continuing and police suspect one terrorist may have been killed.

Mobile internet services were suspended and schools closed for the day in the vicinity as a precautionary measure.

In Baramulla, four terrorists, believed to be members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, have been killed and two are trapped in an encounter that started on Thursday.

The violence comes before the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jammu on April 24. This would be Modi's first visit to the Union territory since the removal of Article 370 and the erstwhile state's bifurcation in August 2019.

He had previously celebrated Diwali with soldiers posted in Rajouri and Nowshera in 2019 and 2021, respectively.