By Vishal Bharti
Jammu, July 20 (UNI) With Jammu region witnessing a spate of terror attacks in the recent weeks, an ‘Operation All-Out’ is being launched by the security forces for which around 3,000 additional troops are being moved here.
The ‘Operation All-Out’ and induction of additional troops have been necessitated because of the fact that the terrorists, whose number is estimated to be between 40-50, find hiding places inside the deep forests and high mountains of the Jammu region.
There have been a number of attacks by the terrorists since June 9, the day the new government at the Centre assumed office.
The attacks have been carried out in Reasi, Kathua and Doda districts and the targets were chosen in the mountainous areas where the terrorists find it easy to escape because of the nearby forests and mountains.
“The Army, in synergy with J&K Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), has framed a joint strategy to launch ‘Operation All-Out’ to neutralise the terrorists,” a source told UNI.
“As per intelligence inputs, estimated 40 to 50 terrorists have sneaked into the Indian territory via the borders in Jammu and are active in clusters in these areas,” a source said.
The source said around 3000 additional troops are to be deployed in the Jammu region to be part of the special operation.
The Village Defence Guard (VDG) members have also joined the security forces to hunt down the terrorists hiding in the forest areas of the Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts.
“Along with additional deployment of troops to the area, para-commandos are also to be deployed to hunt and eliminate the terrorists,” they said.
In the terror attacks in the Jammu region, nearly 50 security personnel have been killed since 2021.
Sources also informed that the terrorists for the last few years have been found using the American-made M4 carbine assault rifles in these attacks.
The recovery of US-made M4 carbine is alarming because the leftover weapons of the American Army seem to have reached the terrorists through Pakistani handlers after its pullout from Afghanistan in 2021.
The terrorists initially targeted the security forces in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch but since June, they have carried out attacks deep inside the Jammu region.
One such attack was carried out in the Reasi district on June 9, when a bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori temple to Katra, was fired at, after which it fell into a gorge.
At least 9 persons, mostly devotees from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, were killed and 43 were injured in the attack.
Subsequently, there have been attacks in Kathua and Doda districts too, with security forces being the targets.
In July alone, 9 Army soldiers have been killed and five injured in terror attacks in Doda and Kathua districts.
The latest attack took place on July 15 in Urranbaggi forests of Dessa area in Doda district, in which four army personnel, including one Captain rank officer, were killed.
In June, a cop was injured in a terrorist attack in Doda district, two foreign terrorists and a CRPF jawan were killed in a gunfight after terrorists attacked a joint check post in the Kathua district.
In May, one IAF personnel was killed and five were injured in a terrorist attack in Poonch district, in April, a VDG was killed in an encounter with terrorists in Basantgarh, Udhampur district, a government employee was shot dead by terrorists in Rajouri district.
