Irfan Yattoo / Arvind Sharma
Srinagar/Jam mu: May 08:, The Jammu and Kashmir Police Monday have detained at least three suspects and have interrogated dozens of people about the terrorist operation in Rajouri on May 5 that claimed the lives of five soldiers.
Meanwhile, the ‘Operation Trinetra’ launched jointly by the security forces to hunt down the terrorists in the dense Kandi forests of Rajouri continued for the fourth day today but no fresh contact was established with terrorists.
“Three persons have been detained for interrogation,” according to a senior police officer who spoke to Rising Kashmir, and the case is being investigated.
“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 Poonch district are being questioned regarding the same,” he said.
The police officialsaid extra forces were called on Monday to expand the cordon in the area and trace the hiding militants.
“As per our intelligence reports, there are two terrorist groups with 3-4 members each operating in the Poonch-Rajouri belt,” he said.
The officer said they are tracing contacts of active terrorists including Riyaz Ahmad (Mahore Reasi), Mohammad Amin (Thatri Doda and Rafiq Nayi (Mendhar Rajouri). Both are operating from Pakistan and their involvement is also being probed by the security agencies,” he said.
The officer said all details related to detention of suspects will be shared at appropriate time.
Meanwhile, massive search operation which began on May 5 to hunt down terrorists in Rajouri continued on Monday, officials said.
“The intense search operation in Rajouri to nail down the terrorists is still going on in the forests of Kandi area but the forces did not establish contact with the terrorists today also,” Lt Col Devendra Anand, PRO Defence told Rising Kashmir, while adding, “As of now, we can’t say as to how many terrorists are there in the forests”.
He said that despite inclement weather, search is going on under ‘Operation Trinetra’ in the Kandi area of Rajouri to flush other remaining ones,” he said.
Moreover, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on May 6 reached Rajouri district to review the security situation amid the ongoing encounter between security forces and terrorists in the Kandi forest area.
On his visit to the Army Base Camp in Rajouri, the Defence Minister reviewed the operational capabilities and security situation along the border.
Pertinent to mention here that on October 2021, nine Army soldiers including two army officers were killed by terrorists in Dehra ki Gali area in Poonch district. It was the longest insurgency operation in the region and the area is considered challenging due to its dense forests.
