SECURITY FORCES BUST TERROR HIDEOUT IN RAJOURI AS ‘OPERATION SHERUWALI’ ENTERS THIRD DAY

BuzzBytes
Jammu, May 25:
Security forces on Monday busted a terrorist hideout following a brief exchange of fire as the massive anti-terror operation underway in the forested areas of Rajouri district entered its third consecutive day, officials said.
The operation, launched under the codename ‘Operation Sheruwali’, is being carried out jointly by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla belt of Rajouri.
Officials said security forces continued intense search operations under a strengthened cordon amid inputs suggesting the presence of militants hiding in the dense forest terrain.
“The operation to track down suspected terrorists is going on amid a strong cordon. Surveillance has also been put in place,” officials said.
Joint teams, assisted by drones and sniffer dogs, expanded searches to adjoining forest areas while additional reinforcements were inducted to prevent any escape attempts by the militants.
Officials said there was brief firing in the area before the hideout was detected and busted.
According to reports, speculative firing was carried out towards the suspected hideout during the operation.
Security personnel recovered a large quantity of material from the hideout, including eatables, cold drinks, water bottles, pickles, clothes, bags and polythene sheets.
Officials said the recovered items appeared to be personal belongings used by terrorists while hiding in the forest area.
Security agencies also reportedly found blood stains near the hideout, indicating that some militants may have sustained injuries during earlier firing or while escaping through the difficult terrain.
The operation was launched on Saturday after intelligence agencies received specific information regarding the movement of suspected terrorists in the Gambhir Moghla forest area.
The search operation led to a brief exchange of fire after security forces established contact with the suspected militants on Saturday morning.
According to preliminary inputs, two to three terrorists are believed to be hiding in the area.
The Army’s White Knight Corps had earlier stated that contact with terrorists was established around 11:30 am on Saturday in the general area of Gambhir Moghla during the intelligence-based joint operation.
The dense forests and rugged mountainous terrain of the Pir Panjal region have posed major challenges for the ongoing operation, officials said.
Security forces have intensified surveillance across adjoining villages and routes while maintaining strict checkpoints to monitor movement in the area.