Jammu, Mar 25: A massive search operation to track down a group of infiltrating terrorists entered its third day in a forested area in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials reported. The operation, spearheaded by Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, was launched on Sunday evening in the Hiranagar sector after an encounter between security forces and terrorists hiding in a nursery.
As security forces advanced further into the cordoned-off area on Tuesday morning, a burst of gunfire was heard. Officials clarified that this was speculative firing by the troops after spotting suspicious movement in the area. An army helicopter hovered above as joint troops, including commandos armed with heavy weapons, sniffer dogs, drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles, continued the search for the terrorists believed to be trapped.
The operation began after intelligence suggested the presence of terrorists inside a “dhok,” a local term for an enclosure, in a nursery in Sanyal village, approximately five kilometers from the International Border with Pakistan. The terrorists opened fire on the police party, leading to an intense gunfight that lasted over half an hour. Reinforcements were quickly dispatched to help apprehend the terrorists, who are suspected to have infiltrated the area on Saturday via a ravine route or a newly created tunnel.
While there have been no reported casualties from the initial gunfire, the area was kept under tight security throughout the night. On Monday, search parties found significant items, including four loaded magazines for M4 carbines, two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeping bags, tracksuits, and food packets. These items are being analyzed by the bomb disposal squad.
Police officials, including the Director General and Inspector General of Police Bhim Sen Tuti, have been on the ground, actively participating in the operation and overseeing the efforts to flush out the terrorists. One report suggested that two groups of five terrorists each infiltrated the region on Saturday.
Locals have also supported the security forces, with village women organizing a community kitchen for the security personnel and media at the outer cordon. In one incident, a seven-year-old girl was injured by a stray bullet and was taken to a local hospital. In another instance, Anita Devi, a 48-year-old villager, described how heavily armed terrorists had captured her husband when they were collecting firewood in the nursery. However, she managed to escape after raising an alarm, drawing attention from others in the area.
The search operation is ongoing as authorities continue their efforts to ensure the safety and security of the region.
Tags: Northlines, Jammu and Kashmir
