Terror suspects seen, search operation launched in Kathua

A joint team of security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Malhar area of Kathua district on Monday after the alleged sighting of two terror suspects in the area. Later in the day, GOC White Knight Corps (also known as 16 Corps) Lt Gen P K Mishra, accompanied by GOC CIF-Delta Maj Gen A P S Bal, visited Seoj Dhar to review the ongoing anti-terror operations in the hilly districts of Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar in Jammu Division.

The armed duo was allegedly spotted in Dragal village, in the upper reaches of Kathua, prompting fresh searches by a joint team of the Army, J&K Police and CRPF. Sniffer dogs and surveillance units were also pressed into service, officials said, adding that the suspects had not been traced so far, even as the operation continued.

Massive searches have been underway in Seoj Dhar forest on the Dudu-Basantgarh axis in Udhampur, adjoining Doda’s Bhaderwah, over the weekend after a soldier fell to terrorists’ bullets late Friday, pushing this year’s security death toll in counter-terrorism operations in the region to 20 — 14 in Jammu and six in Kashmir. On Sunday, another gunfight erupted between security personnel and ultras in Keshwan forest, Kishtwar.

While there was no contact with terrorists after the initial gunfights in Seoj Dhar and Keshwan, choppers and drones were maintaining aerial surveillance in the target areas while joint parties of the Army, J&K Police and CRPF were combing both forests, aided by sniffer dogs, officials said.