Mobile internet restored in Poonch, Rajouri after a week

Srinagar, Dec 29: After remaining suspended for a week, the mobile internet services were restored in the Poonch and Rajouri districts on Friday. The services were temporarily halted in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on the army, which had resulted in the killing of four soldiers in Poonch district.
Following the terrorist attack, the administration suspended mobile Internet services to curb the potential misuse of communication channels by anti-social elements. The move was aimed at maintaining public safety and aiding security forces in their efforts to address the situation.
An official said that after a thorough assessment of the security scenario, authorities have deemed it appropriate to lift the suspension on mobile Internet services. The decision is expected to bring relief to the residents of Poonch and Rajouri, who faced connectivity disruptions during this period, he said.
“The authorities continue to work towards ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents while simultaneously addressing the broader security concerns in the area,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the search operation on Friday continued for 7th consecutive day. Following credible information regarding the movement of suspicious elements in Muradpur area of Kalakote areas, security forces launched a search operation in upper reaches of Rajouri district.
Defence sources confirmed that the search operation is concentrated in the Afla, Muradpur, Bothni, and Swani areas, with security forces actively combing through the dense terrain to assess and neutralize any potential threats. The operation is being conducted with utmost precision and caution to ensure the safety of both the security forces and the local population, they said.
Pertinent to mention here, four soldiers were killed and two injured when heavily armed terrorists ambushed two Army vehicles at a blind curve at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz last week.
The ambush attack had occured when the security personnel were moving to an ongoing search operation in the general area of Dhera Ki Gali in the Thanamandi-Surankote region.
The officials revealed that soon after the ambush, security forces launched a massive search operation in the densely forested areas, also covering nearby Thanamandi in Rajouri, but there was no fresh contact with the fleeing terrorists so far.