Day 4: Kathua operations extended to Dinga Amb & beyond

JAMMU: A multi-tier combing operation in Hiranagar sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district — to track down a group of infiltrator terrorists who escaped a cordon after a firefight with security forces in Sanyal village on March 23 — entered its fourth day Wednesday, with searches being extended to Dinga Amb area and beyond, spanning several kilometres.

The operation was expanded to Dinga Amb after a local woman on Tuesday informed cops that two men in ‘Army’ uniform had asked her for water, prompting security forces to cordon off the area. The woman said that after she gave them water, the duo headed towards the nearby forest.

Security agencies questioned several persons and picked up three suspects for questioning. The security grid was fortified along Jammu-Pathankot NH in Samba-Kathua section with increased vigilance on border roads, officials said. GOC White Knight Corps and alongwith GOC CIF (Delta) force reviewed the operational preparedness in Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban region on Wednesday.

A joint team of Army, NSG, BSF, J&K Police’s SOG, local police and CRPF, equipped with surveillance equipment — such as drones, helicopters and armoured vehicles — and sniffer dogs have been combing the densely forested area under the supervision of DGP Nalin Prabhat since Sunday (March 23) to locate the hidden terrorists. On Monday, four loaded magazines of M4 Carbine, two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeper bags, tracksuits, shoes and eatables were recovered, while on Tuesday, two grenades were seized.

Despite four days of constant searches, contact was yet to be made with the hidden terrorists till late Wednesday.

Meanwhile, DGP Prabhat was seen with an AK-47, without a bulletproof jacket and patka (headgear) during the operation — allegedly against the SOPs — triggering a row on social media. Maj Gen Ajay Seth, VSM (Retd) posted on X, "Prabhat of J&K is seen during recent Kathua operations with an AK 47. DGP without bullet proof patka in an operation is just for photo op."

On Sunday morning, a local couple went to collect firewood in the forest near the Indo-Pak border and claimed to have spotted a group of five terrorists holed up inside a nursery. On being alerted, J&K Police’s SOG launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area, leading to a gunfight. A seven-year-old girl sustained injuries after getting caught in the crossfire.