Poonch: Armed forces have launched extensive Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) in various villages of Mendhar sub-division, with senior officers of both the army and police present at the spot.
The forces have launched the operation after a deadly attack by militants on an army vehicle in Bhata Dhurian, Poonch in which five army personnel lost their lives, with critical injuries to another personnel.
The army in an official statement termed it a militant attack. It said the vehicle caught fire and five army personnel lost their lives while one personnel is injured.
An official said that both the army and police have launched a search operation in the area. “Heavy deployment of forces has been made and many villages including Bhata Dhurian, Nar forest, Sanjiote, and Kotan have been cordoned and intense searches are going on,” he said.
Meanwhile, the movement of all kinds of vehicles has been suspended on the highway stretch between Bhimber Gali and Bhata Dhurian with people being advised to follow the Mendhar diversion for moving towards Poonch and Surankote.
JK Police in Poonch district said that in the wake of “some incident” in Bhata Dhurian, traffic will remain suspended from BG to Surankote road.
“All the commuters are advised to adopt alternative routes that include BG Mendhar JWG or Mendhar KG Poonch,” police said.
