To counter the threat and thwart the attempts of Pakistan-based handlers to spread terror in the peaceful areas of the region, officials said the Army, in close synergy with the police and the central armed police forces, has launched relentless operations in the vulnerable regions, especially in the dense forests.
The recent ambush of an Army truck in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch bears a "striking resemblance" to a terrorist attack on a police vehicle in neighbouring Rajouri district 22 years ago, security officials have said, expressing serious concerns.
Pakistani troops on Friday violated the ceasefire by firing with small arms and mortars on Indian posts along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting Indian troops to retaliate.
An army jawan and a villager were injured on Friday in the firing and shelling by Pakistani troops who continued to target civilian and forward areas along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir for the fourth consecutive day.
Special Police Officer Naresh Kumar was killed in the encounter between the terrorists and the security forces in the forest area of Mendhar in Poonch district, defence sources said. The Bhati Dhar forest of Mendhar area has been cordoned off by the forces, which are also being assisted by Special Operation Group of police.
The jawan is the third army personnel to die in Pakistani firing and shelling on forward posts and villages in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri this month.
Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting a strong response from the Indian Army. The incident, which occurred in the Krishna Ghati sector, comes a day after two Indian Army personnel were killed in an IED blast near the LoC. The ceasefire violation is the fourth cross-border incident in five days and the first this year.
A group of militants were trying to cross the border in Banawat forward area in Poonch district around late Wednesday night, PRO, Defence S N Acharya told PTI.
In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops on Saturday fired at Indian posts along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district but there was no loss of life or damage to property.
Pakistani troops violated ceasefire twice after brutal and inhuman killings of two jawans in an ambush as they shelled and fired on Indian positions in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The party in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' said even after the revocation of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, violence continues in the Kashmir Valley and there is still no peace there.
Jammu and Kashmir Police have intensified their crackdown on terror operatives and overground workers (OGWs) across the Jammu region, conducting extensive search operations in multiple districts.
Indian troops also fired in retaliation and the firing stopped from both sides around 1 pm
Raj Kumar Thapa, additional district development commissioner, Rajouri, and his two staff members were seriously injured when an artillery shell hit his official residence in Rajouri town, the officials said.
The entire area has been cordoned off while drones and sniffer dogs are being used to sniff out the terrorists that might be hiding in the area, they said.
On Tuesday, an army jawan was killed when Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire.
The Army has foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district and has killed a Pakistani terrorist, a defence spokesperson said on Friday.
In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistan troops targeted several Indian posts by opening small arms firing along the Line of Control in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday assured justice to the families of three civilians who were found dead last week after being allegedly picked up by the Army following an ambush on two of Army vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.
Two terrorists and an army officer were killed in a pre-dawn encounter when security personnel foiled an infiltration bid in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior army official said.
Pakistani troops violated ceasefire again on Sunday by pounding Indian forward areas with mortar shells along Line of Control in Poonch district, forcing Indian troops to retaliate strongly resulting in heavy exchanges.
In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, forcing Indian forces to retaliate effectively.
Ten people died and 28 more were injured when an overcrowded mini-bus plunged into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Wednesday, officials said in Jammu.
Pakistani troops on Monday opened unprovoked firing on an Indian post along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. This is the 16th ceasefire violation by the neighbouring country within a month. "There was firing of small arms by Pakistani troops on our forward posts in Krishnagati sub-sector of Poonch district late last night," a senior army officer said.
Army troops on Thursday apprehended a Pakistani soldier who had crossed over to the Indian side along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. A 19-year old Pakistani sepoy has been apprehended by the troops in Kerni Forward Area in Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir around 6 am on Thursday, army officials said.
The firing involving small arms and mortars continued intermittently overnight till 0200 hours on Sunday in Krishnagati (KG) sub-sector in Poonch district after Indian troops detected the movement of a group of "suspected persons" near LoC opposite KG forward belt.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday announced compensation and jobs to the kin of the three civilians who were found dead in Poonch district as a massive search operation was underway to track down terrorists behind the recent ambush on two Army vehicles that left five soldiers dead.
Over 2.5 million voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates in the fray for 26 Jammu and Kashmir assembly seats in the second phase of the election to be held in the Union territory on Wednesday.
A total of 26 Army personnel, including three officers and five paratroopers, and seven civilians have been killed in eight terror attacks since October 11, 2021 in the twin districts.
This is the 22nd incident of ceasefire violation this month.
"The Pakistani army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and mortars from 0515 hours in Poonch sector along the LoC," a defence spokesman said.
Militants on Saturday triggered a blast targeting an army vehicle near Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir but the troops escaped unhurt. However, the vehicle was damaged in the Improvised Explosive Device blast.
In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts along the Indo-Pak border in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The troops were patrolling the forward area in Nowshera sector when the explosion occurred, the sources said.
Firing is going on in the under-construction Mini Secretariat and the operation is on.
Relentless heavy rain led to a landslide on the route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop the Trikuta hill on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least five people and injuring 14, officials said.
The infiltration bid was scuttled in Balakot sector on Saturday evening and a massive search operation is still underway, the spokesman said.
Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire on Wednesday by resorting to mortar shelling and firing along the Line of Control in Poonch district.
The officials said a massive joint search operation by the Army and the police is in progress in several areas including Shahsitar, Gursai, Sanai, Lasana and Sheendara top for the third day but there was no trace of the terrorists so far.
125 explosives devices, 7 kg IED recovered from Poonch cave
