Cordon and search operation continues in the area
Doda: Since the July 15 militant incident in Urranbaggi forests of Dessa area in district Doda in which one captain rank officer and three army personnel were killed, armed forces have picked up some suspects from the area for questioning.
These suspects have been picked over charges of providing food and other logistics support to the hiding militants.
The police have been regularly picking up people for questioning where militants have either stayed or taken food.
Following the killing, more people are being picked up for questioning and today as well few people were detained for questioning but no one has been formally arrested.
An official told KNO that few suspects have been picked up and more may be picked up in coming days. “A Bakerwal family residing in a temporary house (Dhok) in Makhanbaggi, some 15 kilometers down area from Urranbaggi area, was put through questioning and they had informed that few days ago the militants came inside their house and ate food and also took along some food,” said an official.
Since June 11, five militant incidents have been witnessed in Doda district in which four armed forces have been killed and four army personnel and three policemen were injured. The first incident was witnessed on June 11 in Chattergala area of Bhaderwah followed by Tanta top in Gundoh on June 12.
On June 26, armed forces killed three heavily armed foreign militants in Gundoh area of district Doda whereas on July 9 a contact with militants was established in Goli-Gadi forests of Doda where exchange of fire had occurred and now on July 15 another firefight occurred in Urranbaggi where four army personnel were killed.
Last night a brief exchange of fire happened between Village Defence Guard (VDG) members and forces in Malan area of Dessa but no loss of life or injury was reported.
Both Army and police have cordoned off the entire forest area of Dessa and search operation is continuing but militants are still at large.
Meanwhile, police have arrested four people regarding a militant incident in Gundoh for providing logistics support to militants. These people were working as ground workers.
In a statement, district police Doda said that they have intensified its crackdown on the OGW’s network in the district and arrested several supporters in response to recent attacks in the months of June and July.
“On June 12, 2024, an FIR (No. 67/2024) was registered under various sections of the IPC, Arms Act, and UAPA at Police Station Gandoh. Following investigations led by SDPO Gandoh, three people who were identified as Mubashir Hussain, Safder Ali, and Sajad Ahmed were arrested on June 18 and 20 and are currently under judicial custody at District Jail Bhaderwah. Subsequently, on June 26, 2024, another FIR (No. 70/2024) was registered at police station Gandoh and Showket Ali was apprehended on July 14, 2024 and is under police custody. Further arrests anticipated as the investigation progresses on,” the police said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by FPK staff and is published from a syndicated feed from KNO)
