Search operation underway in J&K’s Poonch after suspicious movement near tunnel site

Security forces launched a joint search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district after a guard reported suspicious movement near an under-construction tunnel. J&K Police, SOG and CRPF personnel searched forest areas, with no casualties or exchange of fire reported so far

Jammu: Joint security forces on Tuesday started a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district after noticing suspicious movement near a tunnel under construction. Officials said that a security guard on duty at the construction site noticed the suspicious movement and fired three to four rounds as a precautionary measure.

“No loss of life or damage to property has been reported. Following the incident, a joint search operation was launched around 6 a.m. today by personnel of J&K Police, Special Operation Group (SOG) and CRPF in the forest areas of Bhatadurian, Sangiot and adjoining areas,” officials said, adding that no contact or exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the terrorists has taken place so far.

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Security forces have launched massive joint cordon-and-search operations (CASO) across the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in the past as well following multiple reports of suspicious movement and security alerts near the Line of Control (LoC).

In Poonch district, a massive joint search was initiated in the Mendhar sector (including Bhatadurian, Sangiot, and Behari Rakh forests) after the security guard reported suspicious movement near an under-construction tunnel.

Additional operations continue in Surankote and Mankote. In Rajouri District also, operations were intensified in border belts and near Nowshera following intelligence inputs and local reports of suspicious individuals spotted near village sectors.

Operations are conducted by the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, the Jammu and Kashmir Police Special Operations Group, and the CRPF. High-tech equipment, including drones and sniffer dogs, has been deployed to sanitise dense forest terrain and rugged mountain tracks.

The security forces have intensified a series of coordinated, intelligence-led Cordon and Search Operations across the Pir Panjal region, specifically focusing on specific village corridors and dense forest clusters in both Poonch and Rajouri districts.

The latest multi-agency operations are targeting active, heavily armed terrorist groups believed to be shifting locations within the rugged border belt.