Searches continue in Poonch & Kathua

JAMMU: A joint team of security forces intensified search operations across Jammu region Monday, especially in Kathua ’s Bani and Poonch ’s Pathanateer areas, to track down terrorists a day after back-to-back shootouts in J&K , less than a week before the first phase of polling for assembly elections on Sept 18. No fresh contact, however, was established, officials said.

On Sunday morning, a gunfight had erupted between security personnel and terrorists in Poonch’s Mendhar sector, while another broke out the same afternoon in the remote Nuknali Bani area of Kathua district.

The elections are taking place against a backdrop of escalating violence. Between May 4 and Sept 13, J&K recorded 21 security force fatalities — 17 in Jammu zone and four in Kashmir Valley. The latest casualties occurred on Sept 13, when two soldiers were killed in a gunfight in Kishtwar district’s Chatroo area, following the killing of two Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists on Sept 11.

On Saturday, a junior commissioned officer (JCO) was wounded during an exchange of fire as soldiers foiled an attempt by terrorists from Pakistan to cross into the border in Rajouri’s Nowshera sector.

Security has been intensified in Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua, and Udhampur districts, particularly in the upper reaches, following the recent surge in terrorist activities. “Terrorists are taking advantage of dense forest cover and using it to camouflage their movements,” an official said.