JAMMU: Security forces launched Sunday a widespread search near the India-Pakistan border in Kathua district of J&K to track down three armed men spotted in the hilly and wooded terrain late Saturday night, raising suspicion that those could be Pakistani terrorists on the run following a fatal ambush on a two-truck IAF convoy in Poonch district on May 4.Corporal Vikky Pahade died in the attack, while four of his IAF colleagues were wounded.
Officials said a special police officer (SPO) reported seeing three men carrying weapons and backpacks in Tarnah nallah near Jangi Chak in Hiranagar sector. Military drones and dogs were deployed during the search. However, there has been no breakthrough so far. “Nothing suspicious was found so far, but the operation is ongoing,” an official said.
Security measures have been intensified with increased vehicle and individual checks, particularly on border roads in the district.
Earlier, extensive search operations were conducted after villagers in Jakhole-Juthana forest area of Kathua district reported seeing five to six armed men on May 14. On May 11, J&K police released sketches of six foreign terrorists.
According to official sources, former Pakistani army SSG commando turned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Illiyas Fauji along with two other terrorists from Pakistan — Abu Hamza and Handoon — were identified as kingpins of the attack on IAF personnel. It suspected that Pakistani terrorists were also involved in the murder of a village defence guard in a gunfight in Basantgarh on April 28.
Officials said a special police officer (SPO) reported seeing three men carrying weapons and backpacks in Tarnah nallah near Jangi Chak in Hiranagar sector. Military drones and dogs were deployed during the search. However, there has been no breakthrough so far. “Nothing suspicious was found so far, but the operation is ongoing,” an official said.
Security measures have been intensified with increased vehicle and individual checks, particularly on border roads in the district.
Earlier, extensive search operations were conducted after villagers in Jakhole-Juthana forest area of Kathua district reported seeing five to six armed men on May 14. On May 11, J&K police released sketches of six foreign terrorists.
According to official sources, former Pakistani army SSG commando turned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Illiyas Fauji along with two other terrorists from Pakistan — Abu Hamza and Handoon — were identified as kingpins of the attack on IAF personnel. It suspected that Pakistani terrorists were also involved in the murder of a village defence guard in a gunfight in Basantgarh on April 28.