JAMMU: As security forces continued their massive search operation to find terrorists responsible for the recent ambush on two Army vehicles that left five soldiers dead, mobile Internet services were suspended in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Rajouri districts early on Saturday, officials said. The mysterious deaths of three people who were allegedly picked up by the Army for questioning and the widespread anger that resulted from the release of videos allegedly depicting the suspects being tortured led to the suspension of mobile Internet services in the twin border districts.Official sources said that mobile Internet services were suspended in the districts of Poonch and Rajouri as a preventive measure to check rumor-mongering and stop miscreants from creating any law and order issues, even though both Army and civil authorities are mum about the actual situation. The sources stated that in order to maintain peace, more police and paramilitary personnel were stationed in sensitive areas of the districts and that senior Army, police, and civil officers were keeping an eye on the situation. At Dhatyar Morh, between Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz, under the control of Surankote police station in Poonch, three to four heavily armed terrorists targeted an army gipsy and a truck late on Thursday afternoon, killing five soldiers and wounding two more.Following the assault, it was reported that the terrorists stole some of the soldiers’ weapons and disfigured the bodies of at least two soldiers. Following the attack, a massive search and rescue operation was initiated in the heavily forested areas, including Thanamandi in Rajouri. However, according to the officials, there has been no new communication with the terrorists who are escaping. Three people who were being questioned by the Army in relation to the attack on Thursday passed away inexplicably on Friday. According to the sources, while the inquiry into their deaths is ongoing, their bodies have been turned over to their relatives for final ceremonies. Safeer Hussain (43), Mohd Showket (27) and Shabir Ahmad (32) of Topa Peer village in Bufliaz were identified as the deceased; however, the reason for their demise was not immediately known.
