Search operation on for militants in Poonch dist

Our Correspondent

Rajouri, November 18

A group of two-three terrorists have managed to escape from the cordon and search operation (CASO), launched jointly by the Special Operation Group (SOG), of the Surankot police and the 16 Rashtriya Rifles in remote Marah village in Poonch district.

Sources said on Sunday, after specific inputs about the presence of some militants in the area, a search operation was launched.

Three parties from different directions ambushed the militants and started searches.

“At about 11.15 pm, a police party succeeded in establishing contact with the militants hiding in a pasture near Marah village and firing started. The firing continued till 2.30 am. In the early hours today, the area was searched and about 35 fired cartridges of AK rifles were recovered from the pasture,” said Ramesh Angral,Senior Superintendent of Police, Poonch.

Javed Iqbal, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Surankot, informed The Tribune that Marah village was 12 km from Bafliaz (Mughal Road) and having no road link.

Taking advantage of the harsh terrain, dense forests and darkness, militants managed to escape, he added.

“The cordon and search operation continued for the whole day today to nab the militants, which is still in progress,” said the SSP.

The Senior Superintendent of Police added that after the contact was established, a party of the 38 RR from Rajouri was also rushed to strengthen the operation.

The SSP said the group might have entered the area after the Army’s pressure on terrorists in Shopian and adjoining areas in Kashmir.

Angral didn’t rule out a new group recently infiltrating the area.