Searches in Khour’s Keri-Battal area following sighting of four terrorists

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CCTV images of three terrorists suspected to be involved in attack on IAF convoy doing round on social media

JAMMU, MAY 8: Security forces and Jammu Kashmir Police on Wednesday launched cordon and search operation following alleged sighting of four suspected terrorists in the forests of Keri-Battal area near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu district’s Khour sub division.

Sources said that the searches followed input from a local villager about the sighting of four unidentified gunmen moving in the forests.

The Keri-Battal area falls along Munawar Tawi which acts as a dividing line between Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the Khour sub division falling on the Indian side.

Terrorists had in 2017 attacked the GREF camp there killing three labourers.

The Keri-Battal area connects with Rajouri district’s Sunderbani area and is a known infiltration route of terrorists proceeding to the hinterland of Rajouri and Poonch districts and finally to Kashmir via Mughal road. Barring Sunderbani-Kalakote assembly constituency, Rjouri district along with Poonch form part of Anantnag parliamentary constituency which is going to polls on May 25.

Meanwhile, images of three suspected terrorists, who purportedly carried  out the May 5 attack on an Indian Air Force convoy in Poonch district, are doing rounds on social media.

However, there is no official confirmation if the three terrorists seen in the images on Wednesday were behind the Poonch terror attack, or whether the security forces released the pictures.

The images, apparently taken out of a CCTV clip, follow the circulation of posters carrying the sketches of two terrorists suspected to be behind the attack. However, army official deny knowledge about the posters which also announce an award of Rs 20 lakh for information leading to the apprehension or elimination of the wanted terrorists.

An air warrior Corporal Vikky Pahade was martyred and four other IAF personnel injured in terrorist attack on their vehicles near Shahsiter.