Searches launched in J&K’s Kathua & Samba; combing op in Kishtwar enters Day 6

JAMMU: A joint team of security forces launched a search operation in the higher reaches of J&K’s Kathua district on Tuesday following intelligence inputs about the movement of suspected terrorists. A similar operation was carried out in Samba district. Yet another combing operation in Kishtwar district entered the sixth day, officials said.“A joint cordon-and-search operation by the Army, CRPF and J&K Police has been underway in the upper reaches of Lowang and Sarthal in Kathua’s Bani area since morning,” said an official.In a similar operation, a team of J&K Police’s Special Operations Group carried out searches in Manohar Gopala and Shatala camp areas in Samba district for several hours on Tuesday morning. “It was part of an area domination exercise and to restore confidence among locals,” said an official.“Meanwhile, a joint search operation in Singhpora area of Chatroo in Kishtwar district entered the sixth day on Tuesday,” said the official. Operation Trashi, which commenced on May 22 based on intelligence inputs, had resulted in a fierce encounter between security forces and terrorists, in which a soldier — Sepoy Gaykar Sandip Pandurang — was killed and two others were injured. Searches continue to track the terrorists, who had managed to escape by taking advantage of the dense forest and topography.