The incident took place in Chingla-Balotha village, a remote settlement in the higher reaches of Basantgarh. Officials said the homeowner fled in panic and immediately alerted police, prompting security forces to rush to the area.
The Army, J&K Police and CRPF have since launched an extensive cordon-and-search operation, scouring dense forests and rugged terrain where the suspects were last seen. “Movement of two to three suspected terrorists was reported in the forest belt. No contact has been made so far,” officials said on Saturday.
The search operation had initially started on Friday following signals of suspicious movements in the Chigla-Balotha area, but was sharply intensified after the Bakerwal family’s report confirmed the immediate presence of the suspects.
HIGH RISK INFILTRATION CORRIDOR
Basantgarh lies along a traditional infiltration route often exploited by Pakistani terrorists who cross the international border in the Kathua sector and move through the treacherous upper reaches towards Doda and Kishtwar before attempting to enter the Kashmir Valley.
The region has witnessed multiple encounters, hideouts and terror-related incidents in the past few years, making it one of the most closely watched forest corridors in the Jammu division.
FORCES DESTROY FORESTS, VILLAGES
Security personnel have expanded the search to nearby hamlets and forest areas, deploying sniffer dogs, UAVs and specialist teams to detect footprints and possible movement tracks. Villagers have been asked to stay indoors and report any unusual activity immediately.
No encounter has taken place so far but the forces remain alert, expecting that the suspects may still be hiding in the dense forest area.
The operation is expected to continue until the suspects are traced or the area is completely decontaminated, officials added.
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