• Security intensified in entire region
• Technical equipment being used in the operation: Army
• 3 suspects detained
Irfan Yattoo
Srinagar, July 19: The massive search operation continued on Friday against holed-up terrorists who fired on a school building and injured two security personnel in Kastigarh area of Doda district of Jammu region.
PRO Defence Jammu Division, Lt Col SuneelBartwal told Rising Kashmir that a massive search operation is underway in the dense forests and technical equipment has been deployed to trace terrorists and monitor the search operation.
He said presently searches are underway in upper reaches of Doda and Kathua belts to track the terrorists that are taking shelter in densely forest areas.
The operation entered its 5th day on Friday and no contact was established with the terrorists.
On Thursday, a brief gunfight lasted over an hour, erupted around 2 am in the Zadan High School in Kastigarh.
A police officer said that a joint search operation is underway and security has been beefed up in the entire area.
“The 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.
The official said drones and helicopters were pressed into service to assist the marching troops, which included para-commandos, in the jungle,” he said, adding that the entire forest belt is still under tight security cordon to track down the terrorists.
“Tracking terrorists in dense forests is a little bit challenging due to the dense foliage, limited visibility. We are using both aerial and sniffer dogs to track the terrorists,” he added.
The official said that there is nothing fresh now and the operation continues for the 5th straight day with good intensity,” he said, adding that the entire forest belt is still under tight security cordon to neutralise the terrorists.
He said 3 persons have been detained for questioning and investigation is underway in the case.
“We are tracking the possible routes that terrorists might have used and who provided them accommodation. Some suspects who are living in adjacent areas including Dodadistrict are being questioned regarding the same,” he said.
The police officials said extra forces were called on Friday to expand the cordon in the area and trace the hiding terrorists.
“As per our intelligence reports, there are 2 terrorist groups with 3-4 members each operating in the Doda-Kathua belt,” he said.
On Friday, Para-commandos, Special Operations Group, which primarily handles anti-terror operations, were deployed in the area.
Earlier this week, On Tuesday, four Army soldiers of Rashtriya Rifles including a Major-rank officer succumbed to their injuries after an encounter with terrorists in Desa forests of Doda district.
Doda district, which was cleared of terrorism in 2005, has seen a rise in attacks since June 12.
Since the beginning of this year, nearly a dozen terror attacks in six districts of Jammu province have resulted in 27 deaths, including 11 security personnel, a village defence guard, and five terrorists.
