Ramban/Jammu: A group of three terrorists were holed up inside a house in Batote, along the Jammu-Kishtwar area and have been neutralised by the Indian Army. One Army personnel has been killed in the encounter. 

The officials also stated that the house owner was held hostage and has now been rescued safely. The terrorists were encircled by the search parties inside the house after they managed to escape an earlier encounter on the highway town in Ramban district. 

Locals have been told to remain inside their houses by security forces as a safety measure for the hostage inside and others.

Security forces including Special Operations Group and Army are keeping a watch on the movement of the terrorists and a gunbattle is ongoing at present.

Security forces have launched joint operations against terrorists in Ramban, Doda and Ganderbal areas of Jammu and Kashmir, operations are still on.

Just this morning, the terrorists hurled a grenade and opened fire at the QRT of the Army at Dharmund village, leading to a brief exchange of fire. 

Jammu-based defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said, “Today (Saturday) morning at about 7.30 am, two suspicious individuals tried to stop a civilian vehicle at the general area Batote on the highway. The driver was alert, did not stop the vehicle and rushed and informed the nearest Army post.”

“The quick reaction team reacted promptly and contact was established with the suspicious individuals,” he said.

The movement of the traffic on the highway was stopped following the incident as a precautionary measure, they said.