J&K Arnia encounter: 3 civilians, 3 jawans and 4 terrorists dead; Army moves tanks for final assault

Three militants were also killed during the encounter which was in progress. The fidayeens had taken refuge inside an army bunker and were reportedly using the army ammunition already stored there.

2. The timing of the attack in Arnia can’t be a coincidence. My condolences to the family of the army officer killed in Arnia.

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) November 27, 2014

3 civilians have lost their lives along with 3 army personnel, my condolences to the families. 4 militants have been neutralised in Arnia. — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) November 27, 2014

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The militants had sneaked into this side of the international border a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a SAARC nations meeting in Kathmandu, called for a pledge to unitedly combat terror reminding them of the 26/11 Mumbai attack. The Inspector General of Police for Jammu zone, Rajesh Kumar, confirmed the casualty on the army

The Inspector General of Police for Jammu zone, Rajesh Kumar, confirmed the casualty on the army side, but refused to divulge details before the conclusion of encounter.

The Inspector General of Police for Jammu zone, Rajesh Kumar, confirmed the casualty on the army side, but refused to divulge details before the conclusion of encounter.

Sources, however, said that the fidayeens had come nearly two km inside the Indian territory behind the barbed wire fence and injured three army jawans before entering an army bunker near village Kathar. During the ensuing encounter with other army jawans, a fidayeen was killed and a civilian injured. One more jawan also got injured.

One of the injured jawans and the civilian later succumbed to injuries. According to police, a group of four terrorists was spotted by local villagers at Pindi Kathar village in the morning, following which they immediately informed the BSF and the local police. The area was immediately cordoned and searches launched, a senior police officer said.

An Indian Army soldier gives orders to his colleagues during exchange of gunfire with armed suspected militants at Pindi Khattar village in Arnia border sector, 43 kilometers (27 miles) south of Jammu, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014. An army officer says some of the militants occupied an abandoned bunker in Jammu region early Thursday and fired at the soldiers in Arnia sector in the Indian portion of Kashmir. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

During the searches, the contact was established and encounter was in progress. The terrorists were hiding in the village, he said, adding that it was yet to be known whether they had taken anybody hostage.

1. Some things will never change, SAARC summit is on, Ind & Pak PMs at the same venue and a fierce encounter breaks out in Jammu. — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) November 27, 2014

The terrorists appeared to have sneaked into the Indian territory taking advantage of unprovoked small arms firing by Pakistani Rangers in the area during wee hours of Thursday. Two mortar shells were also fired from across the border, but no one got injured on the Indian side.

An Indian Army soldier takes position during an encounter with armed suspected militants at Pindi Khattar village in Arnia border sector, 43 kilometers (27 miles) south of Jammu, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014. An army officer says some of the militants occupied an abandoned bunker in Jammu region early Thursday and fired at the soldiers in Arnia sector in the Indian portion of Kashmir. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Significantly, nearly a month ago, Arnia was the worst hit by unprecedented unprovoked shelling by Pakistani Rangers which had continued for over a fortnight leading to migration of a large number of villagers from their native places.

Meanwhile, Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt Colonel Manish Mehta said that the army troops nabbed a terrorist near the Line of Control (LoC) in Lam sector of Rajouri district and foiled an infiltration bid from the side of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

Indian Army soldiers walk at Pindi Khattar village in Arnia border sector, 43 kilometers (27 miles) south of Jammu, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014. An army officer says some of the militants occupied an abandoned bunker in Jammu region early Thursday and fired at the soldiers in Arnia sector in the Indian portion of Kashmir. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Identifying him as Abdul Qayoom alias Punjabi, the spokesman said an AK 47 with 30 rounds, a Pakistan-made pistol and Rs 8,100 in Pakistan currency were recovered from him.