High alert in Katra after 2 suspected militants seen

Devinder Thakur

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Katra, June 11

After the sighting of two suspected militants in Army fatigues carrying backpacks at Domel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway by some locals, security agencies took all preventive measures, including sounding a high alert in Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine pilgrimage.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi, Sujit Kumar said it was done keeping in view the ongoing heavy rush at Vaishno Devi and the about-to-start Amarnath pilgrimage. A search operation was in force late last night after sighting two suspected militants in Army fatigues carrying backpacks at Domel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway by some locals.

Sujit Kumar added that during the search operation Army fatigues and boots were found from under a bridge and it was being suspected that both the men have changed into casual clothes.

They were carrying backpacks and when the locals found them suspicious, they informed the Army and police. However, the duo managed to escape.

The SSP, Jammu, Sunil Kumar, SSP, Reasi, Sujit Kumar, along with SOG reached the spot while the search operation was launched on late Friday night and a cordon was laid and is still on.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up on the Jammu-Srinagar highway and Katra, whereas the Vaishno Devi yatra is proceeding normally.