The Indian Army's Romeo Force and the special operation group of the Jammu and Kashmir police continued their joint search operation for the fourth consecutive day in the forest area of Lasana in Poonch district.
This operation was launched after a brief exchange of gunfire between security forces and militants on Monday night. The security forces have cordoned off the area and are conducting a thorough combing operation in the dense forest regions, aiming to trace militants believed to be hiding in the area.
According to officials, the militants fired on Romeo Force personnel during the exchange, resulting in one security personnel being injured near Lasana village, located along the National Highway connecting Poonch with Jammu city. The forces are continuing their efforts to secure the area and track down those responsible for the attack.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, BS Tuti, spoke about the ongoing operation, noting that Poonch has been facing a new wave of terrorism over the past one and a half to two years. He mentioned that a detailed action plan has been formulated to locate and neutralise the militants hiding in the region.
Tuti said, "Poonch district has been dealing with a new wave of terrorism in the last 1.5-2 years… today, a meeting was held with the Army and we have formed an action plan… we have marked certain areas where the presence of militants has increased. Action will be taken, and you will get to see the results also in the coming days."
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Militancy had reemerged in the Jammu division after a significant break since 2021, when the region was declared largely free from militancy due to the strong presence of the Indian Army. However, experts suggest that the resurgence of militancy can be attributed to the redeployment of forces.
A significant portion of the military presence in sensitive areas was shifted to Eastern Ladakh, where the Indian Army has been in a prolonged standoff with the Chinese PLA since 2020. This shift left some gaps in security coverage in Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite the army's intensified counterinsurgency operations, there remain challenges due to the region’s dense forests, rugged terrain, and technical limitations. The security forces continue to face difficulties in completely eliminating the threat posed by militants hiding in these challenging environments, but efforts are ongoing to restore peace and security in the region.
Also Read: Security forces intensify anti-terror ops in Poonch
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