A fierce encounter in Jammu's Kathua district on Thursday left three policemen and two militants dead as security forces battled insurgents suspected to have infiltrated from Pakistan. The slain officers, including a selection grade constable, were reportedly PSOs of the SDPO Border.

The militants were first spotted by a local couple in Saniyal village, near the International Border, triggering an extensive five-day-long search operation led by J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat. Seven suspects have been detained for allegedly providing logistical support to the militants.

The encounter site, nearly 30 km away from where the militants were first seen, suggests they were moving towards Udhampur or Doda via Kathua's Ghati area. Security forces recovered grenades, M4 ammunition, bulletproof jackets, and other material, indicating a well-equipped militant group. The dense forested terrain has made the operation challenging, with security forces intensifying their combing efforts.