Heavy gunfire and sounds of explosions were heard from a dense forest area in Rajouri district as security operations against a group of armed terrorists entered their tenth day on Monday.
Smoke rising from the Gambhir Mughlan forest, reportedly caused by firing directed towards suspected terrorist hideouts, was visible from a considerable distance. Security forces continue to maintain a tight vigil in areas where the terrorists are believed to be hiding.
An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists on May 23 after intelligence agencies received specific inputs regarding their presence in the area, prompting the launch of a massive search operation.
According to intelligence inputs, the group is believed to comprise two Pakistani terrorists hiding in the forest. One of them is said to be highly trained and was reportedly tasked with targeting security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
Security agencies have also received information suggesting that Pakistan-based terror groups may attempt to infiltrate more terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Rajouri and Poonch sectors. Increased activity has reportedly been observed at launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Reinforcements have been deployed to block possible escape routes from the forested area.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) Lieutenant General PK Mishra on Monday visited forward areas along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch to review the security situation. He was accompanied by senior officers of the Rajouri-based Ace of Spades Division.
“GOC White Knight Corps visited forward areas to review the evolving security situation and operational preparedness along the Line of Control. Interacting with troops, the Corps Commander commended their high morale and professionalism. He expressed satisfaction with the formation’s operational preparedness and measures aimed at enhancing surveillance, precision-strike capability and future warfare readiness, reaffirming the Army’s unwavering commitment to maintaining domination along the LoC,” an official statement said.
