Six suspected terrorists trigger massive search operation in Doda, Poonch

A major security hunt was launched across Doda and Poonch on Tuesday after six suspected Pakistani terrorists were spotted at two separate locations in the Jammu region, sending security agencies into a heightened alert ahead of Independence Day.

Reinforcements of the Army, CRPF and Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police were rushed to the two locations and extensive combing operations were launched to track down the suspected terrorists.

While four suspected terrorists were reportedly seen scaling Ramtund Peak in Doda, two others were spotted near an under-construction tunnel on a strategic road in Poonch close to the Line of Control (LoC), officials said.

A video purportedly showing four suspected terrorists scaling the Ramtund Peak in the Doda district has surfaced. The video was captured by some locals who alerted the security forces late on Monday afternoon.

A hunt for these terrorists was launched within minutes after the information came in.

Two suspected terrorists were spotted suspiciously moving near a tunnel under construction on the strategic road in the Poonch district near the Line of Control (LoC). Officials said that a security guard on duty at the construction site noticed the suspicious movement and fired three to four rounds as a precautionary measure.

The Ramtund area lies close to the Seoj Dhar belt of the Udhampur district, a remote and heavily forested mountainous region used by terrorists as a route for movement and, at times, as a hideout. The difficult terrain, dense forests and connectivity with adjoining mountain areas have made the belt strategically sensitive from a security perspective.

Reports said preliminary inputs suggest that the group may comprise three foreign terrorists and one local. However, there has been no contact with the suspected terrorists so far.

Security agencies have maintained heightened vigilance in the region due to its use in the past as a possible infiltration, transit and concealment route by terrorists.

Following spotting of two suspected terrorists in Poonch, a joint search operation was launched around 6 a.m in the Mendhar sector along the LoC in the forest areas of Bhatadurian, Sangiot and adjoining areas, officials said, adding that no contact or exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the terrorists has taken place so far.

A high alert was also being maintained along the LoC in the Nowshera sector of the Rajouri district. Drones and sniffer dogs, have reportedly been deployed to sanitise the dense forest terrain and rugged mountain tracks.