Searches launched in J&K's Poonch after brief firefight with terrorists

JAMMU: Security forces launched a massive combing operation after a brief exchange of fire with terrorists in Lasana village in Surankote of J&K’s Poonch district on Monday night.

“Op Lasana… Contact was established with terrorists during a joint operation with J&K Police at Lasana, Surankote last night. Additional troops have been inducted, and search operations are ongoing to prevent the terrorists from escaping,” Army’s Nagrota-based White Knight Corps posted on X.

Earlier on Monday, the troops had launched a cordon-and-search operation in Lasana following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area. On spotting the forces, holed-up terrorists fired upon the search party, triggering a gunfight.

On Saturday, a joint team of security forces gunned down three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists — including a top commander Saifullah, who had allegedly been active in Chenab Valley for over a year — in Kishtwar’s Chatroo area. Earlier on Friday, a JCO died of fatal injuries sustained in an encounter between the Army and terrorists near a seasonal rivulet in Keri Bhattal area.