Deputy Inspector General of Police (Jammu–Samba–Kathua Range) Shiv Kumar Sharma on Thursday said the prevailing weather conditions, accompanied by dense fog, pose a major challenge to security forces conducting counter-terror operations in the hilly reaches of the Jammu division.
He made these comments during a visit to interact with security personnel deployed on the ground in the twin border districts of Kathua and Samba, which have witnessed recent encounters in the past few weeks.
Sharma said information about the presence of suspected terrorists was received on Wednesday, following which a response operation was launched. “Multiple teams have been deployed and are currently searching the area. The operation is still ongoing,” he said.
The DIG said the tip-off regarding the presence of some suspected persons in the area was received from local sources, and the ground intelligence network is actively working.
“The information provided was very reliable, and we are acting upon it. Therefore, we cannot share further details at this stage,” he said, referring to the Kathua operation.
“All our police personnel and ground teams are on duty. We appeal to the public to immediately inform the police if they notice anything suspicious. Our teams are committed to the safety and security of the people and remain deployed across the area,” he said.
He added that Special Operations Group (SOG) teams, ground intelligence units, and personnel from all police posts are currently carrying out search operations ahead of Republic Day.
“This is the fog season, and fog poses a major challenge for us. Conducting search operations in fog creates several difficulties, including for drones and ground forces,” Sharma said during a press briefing.
“We have patriotic citizens who promptly inform the police whenever they notice suspicious activity,” he added.
He said meetings are being held with the public to raise awareness. People are repeatedly told to inform the police in case they notice suspicious activities in their localities.
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