Locals asked to stay indoors as ops in Poonch Forest enter day 9
Locals asked to stay indoors as ops in Poonch Forest enter day 9
SRINAGAR, OCT 19 (PTK): Anti-insurgency operations in the forests of Poonch and Rajouri, two border districts of Jammu and Kashmir, entered their ninth day today, with an announcement urging locals to stay indoors for their safety, officials said.
Officials said local mosques in Bhata Dhuriyan and surrounding areas were alerted through public address systems as security forces prepared for the final strike against the militants, who are believed to be in Poonch. They are hidden in the forests of Mendhar in the district.
He said that the local people have been asked not to venture out into the forest area and keep their animals in their homes in view of the ongoing campaign. Officials said those who have gone out have been asked to return to their homes with their animals.
On October 11, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and four other security personnel were killed in a fierce encounter, while four other jawans, including another JCO, were killed at the start of an anti-militancy operation in Poonch’s Surankote forest. In the Nar Khas forest of Mendhar on Thursday evening after the security forces increased the siege and search operation.
On October 11, an encounter was going on in Thanamandi forest adjoining Thanamandi forest of Rajouri district, when security forces confronted the fleeing terrorists who later managed to escape. (PTK)
