Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 25: Army today intensified its operation in Handwara forests after they killed two militants including a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander yesterday.
Sources said that Army has managed to track some of the members of the militant group by using the surveillance helicopters. These militants have been now encircled in the dense Haril forests and Army hoped to establish contact with them soon.
It may be mentioned here that two militants of LeT and one Army jawan were killed yesterday in a fierce encounter after Army trapped a large group of recently infiltrated militants in Haril forests of Handwara.
The Kupwara based 47 RR of Army has joined the 30 RR, 32 RR, 6 RR, 9 Para, 6 Para of the Army and SOG Handwara in the operation today. The search operation was extended to more forest areas after some of the members of the militant group managed to flee from the encounter site.
The 52 RR, 22 RR and 29 RR of the Army are managing the outer cordon so that the militants may not escape from the forests and escape to hinterland.
Army is maintaining tight vigil in the forests and today they have fanned the Haril forests.
The Handwara forests where the militants group has been trapped is considered to be forest hideout of infiltrated militants. Last month Army killed divisional commander of LeT Abu Hanzala in these forests. Hanzala had made these forests permanent base for past few years and was responsible for infiltrating militants into Kashmir valley. He was providing them money and other logistic support.
Army said militant groups are desperate to send commanders into Kashmir valley from across the LoC to compensate the losses suffered by them during past one year.
Army had trapped another group of recently infiltrated militants in Uri forests near the LoC in the middle of this month killing two militants of the group including LeT commander. The operation lasted for about 10 days and was called off after rest of the militants of the group fled from the Army cordon.
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