Drones and dogs help search Kishtwar forests for Jaish terrorists | India News – Times of India

JAMMU: Security forces explore the rugged terrain and forests of Keshwan and adjoining areas in J&K’s Kishtwar district using helicopters, drones And military dogs in a search-and-kill operation against three to four Pakistani terrorists responsible for Sunday’s killing of a junior commissioned officer (JCO) and two village defense guards four days ago.
On Monday, the mortal remains of Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar, stationed with two Para Special Forces, were brought to his native village – Barnog in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. The 42-year-old JCO is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. The cremation will take place on Tuesday.
Three other soldiers were injured in the gunfight that broke out when the forces chased terrorists who kidnapped and killed VDGs Nazir Ahmed, 42, and Kuldeep Kumar, 40. Kashmir Tigers, a shadow group of Pakistan-backed terrorists. Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), has claimed responsibility for the killings.
“An intensified search is underway in the dense forests of Kishtwar district. There has been no new contact with the terrorists since Sunday,” the official said. The remote landscape, dotted with deep gorges, dense forests, mountain caves and other natural hideouts, provides ample cover for terrorists operating in small groups. “There are still three to four terrorists in the area,” the official said.
Additional troops from the Bharat Ridge side of Doda district have been deployed to strengthen the cordon. Bharat Ridge connects the upper reaches of Kuntwara and Keshwan forests in Kishtwar with the Dessa area of ​​Doda district and leans towards the upper reaches of Kapran in Anantnag district of Kashmir valley. Terrorists have used this route to travel undetected to Kashmir after crossing the border with Pakistan in the Jammu zone.
A similar search operation continues on the outskirts of Srinagar after security forces clashed with terrorists in the forests of Ishbar – the picturesque foothills of the Zabarwan range stretching from Chashme Shahi to Nishat Bagh – on Sunday. This stretch has several high-security buildings, such as the Raj Bhavan and military camps. “The manhunt is underway,” a police officer said on Monday.