Cordon and search operation in Poonch forests continued after terrorists’ attack 

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Cordon and Search Operation (CASO), launched in Poonch forests after terrorists’ attack on an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy at Shaistar on May 4, continued on the fifth consecutive day today. Army and police carried out search operations in areas surrounded by dense woods, including the Sanai, Shashtar, Gursai Top, and Sheen Dhara areas of Poonch. The search operation was expanded to adjoining areas as well. Many pockets of the area under operation have been kept under tight cordon and vigil.

The terrorists had ambushed an IAF convoy on Saturday evening at Shaistar in Poonch in which an IAF soldier lost his life while five others sustained injuries as terrorists fired indiscriminately on one of the vehicles of the convoy. The security forces are using high-tech gadgets, including drones and helicopters, to search a few locations as the forest is dense. The security forces apprehended many people for questioning. However, the security forces got a major breakthrough as the locals identified the terrorists from the Sketch released by the security forces and claimed that they provided them food.

Meanwhile, a high-level meeting of security agencies was organised in the military establishment area in Poonch, in which many strategies were chalked out and many important decisions were taken. The General Officer Commanding in Chief (GoC), Northern Command, Lieutenant General, M V Suchindra Kumar, accompanied by White Knight Corps Chief Lieutenant General, Naveen Sachdeva, also visited frontline units along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district and reviewed the security situation.

The visit by the Army Commanders came a few days after the terror attack on the IAF convoy. The Northern Army Commander commended troops for their professionalism in challenging conditions and exhorted them to maintain a high state of morale and motivation. The Field Commanders briefed the GoC in Chief on the situation prevailing along the LoC as well as the hinterland. The senior Army commanders also interacted with the local field commanders.