Searches continue in Kathua’s Badnota area for militants who attacked army convoy
JAMMU, JULY 9: A fresh encounter has s between militants and security forces in Sezan forests of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Tuesday evening, while army, police and CRPF launched searches in Kathua district’s Badnota forests to flush out militants involved in attack on an Army convoy a day earlier.
Two to three militants are belived to be trapped in the Sezan forests borders Kishtwar district on one side and Anantnag on the other side. The exchange of fire at intermittent intervals was going on between the two sides till reports last came in the evening.
Sezan forests are nearly 190 kms away from Badnota, the site of Monday’s terror attack on the Army convoy.
Significantly, this has been the second militant group to have been tracked by police and security forces 13 days as the latter had on June 26 killed three foreign militants in Doda’s Gandoh area. The slain militants were believed to be behind the attack on police and security forces conducting seatches in the area on June 11.
Meanwhile, the ground troops conducting the searches in Badnota forests are being supported by helicopter and drone surveillance, and the Army has also moved in para-commandos to the area. The J&K police have also deployed its Special Operations Group, which primarily deals with anti-terror operations.
However, there has been no trace of militants who absconded after attacking the army convoy.
Five soldiers were killed and five injured when militants ambushed a convoy of two Army trucks in Kathua district on Monday afternoon. Sources said security forces are combing through dense forests in Badnota area to track down the militants.
The ground troops conducting the searches are being supported by helicopter and drone surveillance, and the Army has also moved in para-commandos to the area. The J&K police have also deployed its Special Operations Group, which primarily deals with anti-terror operations.