Gunfight Erupts in Poonch Woods, Potential Casualties Loom

Poonch: A fierce gun battle erupted between militants and a joint team of army and police forces in the dense woods of Gursai Mendhar area in Poonch district on Saturday, officials have confirmed.

The confrontation was sparked amidst an extensive search operation in the wooded terrain following intelligence inputs indicating the presence of militants in the area over the past few days.

According to reports, militants launched an attack on a vehicle, purportedly belonging to either the Air Force or the Military Engineering Services (MES). In response, the security forces, comprising army and police personnel, swiftly retaliated, escalating the situation into a full-blown encounter.

As of now, there has been no official statement regarding any injuries or fatalities. However, insider sources suggest that casualties might have occurred during the exchange of fire.

At the time of filing this report, intensive search operations were still underway, with high-ranking army officers rushing to the scene to oversee the situation firsthand.

The development underscores the persistent security challenges faced by the region, highlighting the ongoing efforts of security forces to neutralize threats and maintain peace in the volatile border areas.