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| Search, probe launched after failed operation MENDHAR FIASCO | | |
SUMIT SHARMA
Jammu, Jan 9: A day after calling off one of the biggest operational standoffs in counter-insurgency history of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army have launched search operations to nab the escaped militants while the Police have launched discerning investigation to crackdown the network that helped ultras build their base in Bhati Dhar area of Mendhar in Poonch.
In this connection, the Police had already arrested a retired Assistant Sub Inspector of Police and a woman and on their interrogation, the Special Task Force rounded up two more over-ground workers from Doda who believed to have supplied SIM cards to the militants in Mendhar.
Sources said that
On the disclosure of retired ASI and Moniza Bi, the Special Task Force today conducted a raid in Doda area and held two other OWGs who provided SIM cards to the militants. Police sources said that during interrogation of the duo in JIC they revealed the name of two of their associates and police on their revelation conducted a raid in the Doda area and held two more OWGs identified Waseem Hussain son of Ghulam Hussain and Nazeem Din son of Baru Guggar residents of Godu Gandho and recovered haul of SIM cards of BSNL and Airtel from their possession which they provide to the militants. They are presently detained in police station Tathari where their interrogation was on till last reports came in.
Meanwhile, the army today launched search operations in surrounding forest areas of Bhati Dar to look for militants who might have fled during the nine-day operation that was called off on Thursday night.
"We have called off the operation last night at Bhati Dhar forest area but search in the adjoining forest would continue", Gurdeep Singh, Brigadier General Staff (BGS), 16 Corps, said.
He said the possibility of militants having fled cannot be ruled out as there has been no firing from anywhere since Thursday.
The operation began on 31 December at 1600 hours after reports of a group of militants hiding in the area. Heavy fog and dense forest cover, coupled with poor visibility, provided a perfect cover to the militants who were able to engage the army for so long.
Intercepts available with the security forces suggest that there were about ten militants, some of them top commanders of JeM and LeT, trapped in the area out of which four have been killed, defence sources said.
Three security force personnel also laid down their lives in the operation. However, the bodies of ultras have not be recovered so far, Northern Command spokesman Col D K Kachari said.
The local police, meanwhile, has arrested two persons in connection with aiding the holed-up terrorists. One of them, Muzaffar Shah, is a retired assistant sub-inspector.
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