Shyam Sood
Rajouri, May 29: The massive anti-terror operation underway in the Gambhir Mughlan areas in Manjakote tehsil in Rajouri district entered its seventh day on Friday, with security forces intensifying efforts to track down heavily armed terrorists hiding in the dense forests.
According to official sources, a group of 4-7 LeT Pakistani terrorists are believed to be trapped in the forest belt. In a fresh offensive, security forces launched heavy fire assaults and Multiple Grenade Launcher (MGL) attacks on suspected terrorist hideouts in the rugged and densely forested region.
The operation is being jointly conducted by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, paramilitary forces, and Para Commandos. Advanced surveillance equipment, including drones, helicopters, and sniffer dogs, is being used to locate the hiding terrorists and monitor movement in the difficult terrain.
Officials said large plumes of smoke were seen rising from the targeted forest areas during the latest action, indicating that the strikes on suspected hideouts were effective.
A few days ago, security forces had busted a terrorist hideout in the same region and found blood stains, raising suspicion that at least one terrorist might have been injured during an earlier exchange of fire.
Special Forces have also been air-dropped to join the ongoing assault against the terrorists.
So far, the success has remained elusive. A recent assessment of the security forces claimed the group of terrorists who are still at large seems highly trained in the ‘jungle’ warfare.
Security agencies have also intensified vehicle checking and surveillance on nearby roads to prevent any escape by the terrorists.
The operation began last Saturday after intelligence agencies received specific inputs about the presence of terrorists in the Dorimal area. Contact was established soon after the launch of the search operation, leading to an exchange of fire between terrorists and security personnel.
Meanwhile, another anti-terror operation has also been launched in the Surankote area of Poonch district following fresh intelligence inputs. Security forces remain on high alert across the region.
Unconfirmed reports said that, taking advantage of hideouts in dense forests comprising deep gorges and natural caves, rough terrain, a few among the terrorists might have slipped into the adjoining mountains in the Surankote sector.
