Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 26: Security forces today recovered arms, ammunition and belongings of the militants from Bhatta Durrian forests in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district where search operations by the Army for a group of militants entered into 16th day today.
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Army and police today recovered large number of items from Bhatta Durrian forests during ongoing search operation which include one AK-47 under fold with magazine, 29 ammunition rounds, two grenades, four packets of biscuits, pairs of socks, T-Shirt, Reebok jacket, two blankets, tiffins, two pairs of shoes, two detonators and two syringes.
Searches in Chamrer forests in Surankote tehsil, surrounding Panghai jungle in Thanna Mandi and finally in Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar tehsil had started on October 11 with the martyrdom of five Army personnel, one of them a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO).
On October 14, four more soldiers including one JCO were martyred in Bhatta Durrian forests of Mendhar in encounter with same group of the militants.
Sources told the Excelsior that the Army has intensified operations in Bhatta Durrian after clearance of large area of forest cover which has confined militants to remaining portion of jungles.
This morning, the Army opened heavy firing and lobbed explosive devices targeting certain hideouts of the militants but there was no cross-firing.
“Elimination of the militants if they are still hiding in the forests is only a matter of time now,” they said.
It may be mentioned here that Police have detained number of civilians including some who were working as Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and providing food and shelter to the militants in the forests. Their questioning is on and some vital clues have been gathered about number of militants and timing since they were hiding in the forest cover.
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