Amid hostile weather, search op continues in Poonch

JAMMU: Security forces on Tuesday carried on with a cordon-and-search operation in several forward areas of J&K’s Poonch district , despite inclement weather and hostile terrain posing significant challenges.

Army troops had foiled an infiltration bid by a group of terrorists along the Line of Control in Balakot area of Poonch’s Mendhar sector early Monday, following which Army’s Rashtriya Rifles and J&K Police’s SOG searched Mendhar’s Manjakote and Mankote sectors till late in the night, officials said.

The searches continued Tuesday, with a joint team of RR, SOG, and CRPF combing Soyian Katha, Banjola forest, Khanetar Mohalla, and Dupriana, based on inputs about the movement of suspected terrorists in the region.

Earlier on Aug 30, security forces had launched a massive cordon-and-search operation along the border belt across 11 localities in Poonch district following reports of suspicious movement. Joint teams of the SOG, RR, and CRPF raided Behra Kund, Potha Jungle, Surankote, Peer Tanora, Sangla, Mohalla Lohar Chandimarh, Kandi, Kangra, Keri Galhuta, Mughal Marah Mohalla Muri, and Poli Wala Dhok areas in Mendhar, Mankote, and Surankote sectors.