Poonch/Jammu, Dec 27: While cordon and search operations continued for the seventh day in a row on Wednesday to find the terrorists responsible for last week’s ambush that killed four soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir, new searches were started along the border with Pakistan in Samba and Poonch, according to officials. In order to assess the security situation in the wake of the terror attack, Army Chief Manoj Pande, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flew to Rajouri on Wednesday.According to a senior official, “Security forces are continuing the cordon and search operation to track down the terrorists involved in the ambush on Army vehicles.” Scent detection dogs, aerial mechanisms, and surveillance equipment are all part of the operation. Amidst area dominance operations, more forces have been sent in to block seven infiltration routes. For the fifth day in a row, mobile internet services in Rajouri and Poonch will be suspended. Since this morning, search operations have been conducted at three locations along the International Border (IB) in the Samba district by security forces and special operation groups, according to officials. They claimed that because of the heavy fog along the border, this has been done as a precaution.In response to reports of suspicious activity in the area, security forces in Poonch’s Kirni sector have also begun new search operations along the Line of Control, they said. They said that the operations are still ongoing. Following his visit to Rajouri and Poonch to meet with the families of three civilians who were found dead during the anti-terror operation in the area, officials said the minister of defence is expected to review the security situation at a high-level meeting at Raj Bhawan. They said Singh will also meet with a delegation of chosen individuals. Following the terrorist ambush of two Army vehicles on Thursday at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Buffliaz in Poonch, three civilians who were taken in by the Army for questioning were discovered dead on Friday, causing widespread indignation.The defence minister’s visit comes after Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Manoj Pande visited Poonch’s ground zero on Monday to assess the anti-terrorist operations in Surankote and the Thanamandi forest belt in the neighbouring Rajouri district. In the face of all obstacles, General Pande urged security personnel to maintain their resolve and fortitude. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has promised jobs and compensation to the relatives of the fallen civilians. It stated that the medico-legal procedures had been completed and that legal action had been started.The Army has declared its commitment to providing complete support and cooperation for the investigation’s conduct, and it has ordered a comprehensive internal investigation into the civilian deaths.
