The joint operation by the Indian Army and J&K police was launched on Monday evening in the forest area of Soom and Broh villages of Kalakote region in Rajouri of Jammu & Kashmir. The exchange of fire started when the forces were conducting a massive search operation following a tipoff regarding the presence of unknown persons in the area.
The officials claimed that security forces resorted to “speculative firing” at a few instances during the search, triggering a response from suspected militants. This led to the exchange of fire between the forces and militants. The officials informed that two army men were injured in the initial exchange of fire, however, there is no official confirmation of the injury or casualty on either side as of now. The defence spokesperson in Jammu informed that “technology is being used to monitor the terrorists and intense operations are in progress.”
The forests of the Pir Panchal mountains dividing Jammu from Kashmir have seen heightened militant activity in the last year, resulting in high casualty operations for the armed forces. The officials claim, the militants have managed to construct all-weather hideouts in forests providing them a strategic advantage.