Jammu, Dec 4 : Three individuals were apprehended for questioning as security forces initiated extensive search operations to eliminate suspected terrorists in the forested regions of Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu and Kashmir, officials reported on Monday.
Joint search efforts involving the police, Army, and CRPF were in progress across various areas, including Budhal, Thanamandi, Sunderbani, and Kalakote in Rajouri, as well as Mendhar in Poonch, at the time of the latest updates.
The questioning of three individuals from Barote in Budhal occurred on Sunday evening. Ongoing searches were reported in Muradpur, Bathuni, Ghai Bhawal (Sunderbani), Tatta Pani Broh in Kalakote, Ghambir Mughlan in Manjakote, and Rajdhani-Thanamandi in Rajouri since the morning.
Security forces also conducted combing operations in Gursai, Jabranwali Gali, Saruti, and Ari villages near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district.
The heightened operations follow intelligence inputs about suspicious movements in the forested areas. The intensified searches in the twin border districts are a response to a recent intense gunfight in the Dharmsal belt’s Bajimaal area of Rajouri on November 22 and 23, resulting in the death of five soldiers, including two captains. The encounter saw the elimination of two Pakistani terrorists associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit.
In a separate operation on December 2, security forces discovered a 5 kg Improvised Explosive Device in the Topa Hilltok area of Darhal, which was subsequently neutralized.
