• Denies claims of rockets used in attack
• Search Ops continue on 3rd day
Srinagar, Oct 26: Three days after four persons, including two soldiers were killed in a deadly terror attack on an Army vehicle in Botapathri area of Gulmarg, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla, Muhammad Zaid on Saturday said that around four terrorists were involved in the terror attack.
Talking to reporters at District Police Lines (DPL) Baramulla, SSP Zaid said that search operation was again resumed on Saturday while it is being jointly conducted by the Police, Army, and Paramilitary forces. From Baba Reshi to the forests of Gulmarg, each corner is being searched to trace out the attackers, he said.
“The precautionary measures have also been implemented in built-up areas. “Based on the evidence collected so far, we believe three to four terrorists were involved in the attack,” SSP Baramulla Zaid said.
He further claimed that prior to this attack, multiple search operations were launched in north Kashmir’s Pattan-Kreeri belt.
About reports of a rocket being used in the Botapathri ambush, SSP Zaid dismissed the rumours and said that he has not seen any such evidence. I believe it is not true, he said.
Meanwhile another police official said that the entire forest belt is under a tight security cordon to neutralize the terrorists. The area is mountainous and the forest is dense, making the operation both difficult and dangerous, he said.
“We have intensified with the support of para commandos and aerial support from drones and helicopters to eliminate the terrorists who had infiltrated from across the border and taken refuge in the forest area,” he said.
Meanwhile Gulmarg Gondola rope-way service was restored after being temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure following the killings of four people, including two soldiers, in the terror attack, officials said.
“We had suspended the services of the ropeway . The services were restored on late Friday evening. On Saturday its operations were normal till 2nd phase,” a senior official at the Tourism Department said.
Pertinent to mention here, two soldiers and two Army porters were killed in the attack on Thursday while another porter and a soldier were injured. Terrorists attacked a vehicle in Botapatri area of Gulmarg.
