Anti-terror operation resumes in Kathua to hunt terrorists
The anti-terror operation launched in the forest area of Kamadh Nullah, Billawar, in Kathua district to flush out the heavily armed group of Pakistani terrorists is turning out to be a challenging task amid harsh weather conditions.
The terrorists on the run made their last contact with the security forces late Wednesday evening. During the night, the security forces tightened the cordon in the general area where a group of terrorists was trapped.
The anti-terrorist operation was relaunched in the area at first light on Thursday.
A joint team of security forces, including the Indian Army, has deployed special forces equipped with the latest weapons, drones, and night vision devices to flush them out of their safe hideouts. Tracker dogs and other electronic surveillance equipment have also been pressed to detect the presence of terrorists hiding in the jungle area.
The additional troops were also rushed to the encounter site to plug the gaps in the outer cordon. Throughout the day, the security forces conducted combing and search operations inside the jungle area.
According to official sources, a terrorist hideout was also busted by the security forces near the encounter site. SSP Kathua Mohita Sharma and other senior police officers were stationed in the area to supervise the anti-terror operations. According to officials, the firing between the two sides lasted for more than an hour before the guns fell silent late Wednesday evening. It was not immediately known if any terrorist was hit in the gunfight, the officials said.
There are also reports of the movement of three groups of infiltrating terrorists in the region.
The Army, the BSF, police and the CRPF are continuously conducting search operations, identifying border dwellers, and intensifying patrols along the International Border in Samba and Kathua districts and the adjoining areas of Punjab for the past one month, the officials said.
A multi-tier security grid comprising the BSF, border police, and Village Defence Guards (VDGs) has been put on alert ahead of the Republic Day on January 26.
