Heavy firing in Bhatta Durrian forest

Jammu, October 30

Fire erupted in parts of the Bhatta Durrian forest in Poonch on Saturday as the anti-terror operation in the district continued for the 20th day.

Police sources said heavy firing, including the use of rocket launchers by the Army against the terrorists hiding inside the Bhatta Durrian forests, triggered the fire. Reports said smoke was billowing at some places which are believed to be the areas where the terrorists are hiding. However, there has been no exchange of fire between the security forces and the terrorists in the past three days.

Defence sources said it was possible that the terrorists were either dead or injured, but things would become clear once the operation ends. They added that terrorists, most of them Pakistanis, appeared to have infiltrated into the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) possibly one or two months back. “Since then, the group of terrorists, whose number is likely to be around five to seven, have been hiding inside the Bhatta Durrian forests,” sources added.

So far, half a dozen civilians belonging to villages around the forest have been detained for questioning.

The contact with the hiding terrorists was only established twice on October 11 at Surankote and Thanamandi and again at Bhatta Durrian on October 14, resulting in the killing of nine security force personnel, including two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs). Five of them were killed in Surankote and four in Mendhar.

Meanwhile, traffic between Bhimber Gali and Jera Wali Gali in Mendhar along the Jammu-Rajouri highway remained suspended as a precautionary measure for the 15th day on Saturday in view of the ongoing operation. Rajouri and Poonch have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts since June this year. — IANS/PTI

Several detained for interrogation

• Over 12 persons, including two women, have been detained so far for questioning after it came to light that they allegedly provided food and shelter to terrorists.
• The traffic between Bhimber Gali and Jera Wali Gali in Mendhar along the Jammu-Rajouri highway remained suspended as a precautionary measure for the 15th day.