Poonch Ambush: Intensive Search Operations Continue Into 6th Day To Track Down Terrorists

On Tuesday, security forces continued their sixth day of cordon and search operations to find the terrorists responsible for the ambush that killed four soldiers in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, last week. They had to deal with difficult terrains and dense forests.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to go to Poonch on Wednesday to keep an eye on the situation after the terrorist attack that killed three civilians, according to official sources. He will likely be accompanied by top Army and civilian officials.

Over 30 suspects have been questioned in the last few days, and some of them have been let go, the police said.

“The cordon and search operation is still going on to find the terrorists who set up the ambush on the Army vehicles.”

The official said that sniffer dogs, surveillance gear, and aerial systems are all part of the operation. He also said that more troops have been sent to block seven entry points as part of operations to take over the area.

Official sources say that operations are being done carefully because there are dense forests, deep gorges, and caves in the area.

As of today, mobile internet will not work in Rajouri and Poonch for the fourth day in a row.

They said that the defense minister would probably go to the area on Wednesday and talk with top commanders about what is being done to deal with the situation.

His trip comes after that of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande, who went to Poonch on Monday to look over the anti-terrorist operation going on in Surankote and the Thanamandi forest belt in the nearby Rajouri district.

General Pande told the security staff to stay strong and determined no matter what.

On Thursday, terrorists attacked two Army vehicles at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Buffliaz in Poonch. Three civilians were caught by the Army and taken to be questioned. On Friday, they were found dead.

The government of Jammu and Kashmir said on Saturday that the families of the civilians who died would be getting money and jobs. They also said that all the legal procedures had been completed and that legal action had been started in the case.

There were civilian deaths, and the Army has ordered a full internal investigation. The Army has also said it will fully support and cooperate with the investigation.