Team News Riveting
Srinagar, September 17
The operation to flush out terrorists hiding in Gadole forest area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district entered the fifth day on Sunday even as Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the strategy on the grounds.
Meanwhile, security forces widened the area of operation to neighbouring villages and fired several mortar shells towards the forest. Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi conducted a review of the ongoing operation in the area on Saturday.
Security forces are using drones and helicopters for surveillance of the dense forest area where terrorists are believed to be holed up since Wednesday after killing two Army officers and a deputy superintendent of police in the initial exchange of fire. The martyrs include Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Ashish Danchok of the 19 RR, and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Muhammad Humanyun Muzamil Bhat.
To take down the terrorists in the forest, the Army, the Police, and the paramilitary forces have established a multi-layer cordon around the area to intensify the search for terrorists. The joint security operation by the Indian Army, J&K Police, and special commandos has been going on for over 95 hours.
Official sources said that the Army had deployed Under-Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs), Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs), and an Israeli Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
A narrow lane to the hill was quite challenging, a senior officer said, adding that the residents near the operation site had been relocated to safer locations.
