Heightened Alert In Jammu Following Suspected Militant Sightings Amid Ongoing Kathua Operation

Security forces have heightened alert levels in the Jammu district following sightings of suspected individuals in the Kanachak Sector along the International Border. This comes amid an ongoing operation to neutralize militants responsible for the July 8 attack on an Army vehicle in Kathua.

A massive search operation was launched by a joint team of security forces, police, SOG, and the Army after a local villager reported suspicious movement of three armed individuals in the Gurha Pattan area of the Kanachak sector during the night between Thursday and Friday.

In response to these inputs, security forces have been placed on high alert to address the situation.

Meanwhile, the intensive search operation in Kathua has entered its fifth day. This follows the ambush on an Army vehicle in the Machedi forest area that resulted in the deaths of five Army soldiers and injuries to five others. Additional Army personnel have been deployed in the hilly and dense forest regions of the Kathua-Udhampur-Doda belt as the search for the terrorists continues.

Officials report that troops are advancing cautiously due to the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Since the attack, 60 suspects have been detained for questioning, including three suspected of providing food and shelter to the militants.

The search operation has expanded into the hilly areas of Kathua, Udhampur, and Doda districts, regions that have experienced an increase in terror incidents since June. The aim is to cordon off these areas to prevent the terrorists from escaping, with ground teams supported by surveillance data from unmanned aerial vehicles. Special forces and sniffer dog units have also been deployed.

Security measures have been intensified to counter potential IED threats along highways and other sensitive areas, including sites along the ongoing Amarnath yatra.