Two suspected IEDs defused on 12th day of Mendhar encounter, no terrorist killed

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, Oct 22: Will Mendhar encounter be called off after searches by the Security Forces be completed within the next 2-3 days? There are apprehensions of this step, according to reliable sources.

On the 12th day of one of the longest ensuing Counter-Terrorist Operations (CTOs) since 2003 to flush out a group of terrorists from the Nar Khas forested area in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district, no success has been achieved.

“The Army & J&K Police on Friday during a search operation in Bhata Durian forest found two small boxes which were suspected to be the IEDs, so destroyed in situ,” said Lt Col Devender Anand, PRO Defence ,Jammu.

Ongoing CTO was launched on the night of October 10 after intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in Shahadra (Rajouri) & in adjoining area of DKG (Poonch).

In the morning of October 11,  contact with the terrorists was established in a forest near Chamrer (Poonch), and in the firefight a JCO and four soldiers attained martyrdom and the terrorists escaped.

Additional troops were rushed to the area and the second contact was established near Panghai village (Rajouri) in the evening but without any success.

The entire area was cordoned off by the additional troop, J&K police and during searches third contact with the terrorists was established on October 14 in the Nar Khas forested area near Bhata Durian (Mendhar in Poonch).

In the exchange of fire one JCO and three soldiers attained martyrdom, but no terrorist was killed because they fled towards dense forest.

Since October 14, J&K police, paramilitary forces, and para commandos have been clearing the forested area to eliminate the hiding terrorists.

But the topography of the area, tough terrain, natural hideouts/caves, thick forest, gorges etc, provide safe haven to terrorists and give a tough time to the security Forces in neutralising the terrorists.

Drones were used for surveillance of the area and explosives were dropped from these drones to destroy hideouts but without any success till Friday.

It is very difficult to pinpoint the terrorists

Highly reliable sources said that the Army was likely to call off the CTO at Nar Khas soon after the search of the area would be completed i.e expected within the next few days.

“It is very difficult to pinpoint the militants hiding in the natural caves in thick forests. Moreover, in such operations, human intelligence plays a major role but, according to sources, a very thin population has been seen in the area” said sources.