Poonch (NA): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2021

Five Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed during an encounter with militants during an anti-insurgency operation in a village close to DKG in Surankote of Poonch District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on October 11, reports Daily Excelsior. The operation was launched in the early hours following intelligence inputs about presence of militants, a Defence spokesman said. He said the ultras opened heavy fire on the search parties resulting in critical injuries to the JCO and four other ranks. All the five soldiers succumbed to their injuries. The encounter with the militants was going on and further details are awaited, the spokesman added. Read less...

Two more Army soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed and another soldier was injured in an encounter in dense Bhatta Durrian forests in Mendhar tehsil (revenue unit) of Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir on October 14, reports Daily Excelsior. Security Forces (SFs) believe that the militants involved in the latest encounter were the same who were involved the gun battle at Chamrer forests of Surankote, Poonch, on October 11 in which five SF personnel were killed. Read less...

On October 16, the dead bodies of two Indian Army troopers, Subedar Ajay Singh and Naik Harendra Singh, was recovered during search operations being conducted by the Indian Army along with Jammu and Kashmir Police in Nar Khas Forest in Mendhar of Poonch District, reports Daily Excelsior. On October 14, after a fierce firefight with terrorists, in which two Army troopers were killed, the communication links with Subedar Ajay Singh and Naik Harendra Singh were disrupted. The search operations are ongoing. Read less...

Exchange of fire between Security Forces and a group of terrorists hiding in Mendhar forests of Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir began on October 18, reports Kashmir Observer. “As per inputs, 3-4 terrorists are engaged in the gunfight,” the sources said. Paratroopers were inducted on October 16 to take on the heavily-armed terrorists hiding in the forests. Official sources said the joint team of Army, police, para military troops along with elite commandos were already searching the Nar Khas forests of Mendhar. Helicopters are also being used to track down the militants. Read less...

Army’s counter-terrorism operation in the Nar Khas Forest area of Poonch District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) continued in the morning of October 22 (Today), reports Daily Excelsior. As the operation progresses in the Poonch District, Army’s Special Forces have been deployed to search and target small groups of terrorists hiding in the thick forests. On October 21-evening, Army sources said, “As per the ground assessment, there may be two to four terrorists operating in small groups. Forces are moving carefully inside the dense forest areas to hunt them down.” Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on October 22 detected and neutralised two box-type improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Bhata Durian Forest of Mendhar sub-division in Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir, reports Daily Excelsior. An official said the IEDs, weighing several kilograms, were found planted in bushes by a search team of SFs. Read less...

One Pakistani Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant under detention for fourteen years was killed while three security personnel injured in a gunfight between militants and SFs in the woods Bhata Durrian in Mendhar area of Poonch District on October 24, reports Greater Kashmir. An official said Zia Mustafa, a resident of Rawalakot, lodged in high security Kot Bhalwal jail since 2003, was shifted to Mendhar on 14 days' Police remand in connection with FIR 107/2021 registered in Gursai Police Station related to the encounter in Bhata Dhurian Nar Khas forests in which four Army soldiers including a JCO were killed on October 14. Zia was reportedly taken to a militant hideout after investigation "revealed his links" to the hiding militants in the area. He was reportedly injured along with the three SFs personnel in the encounter that ensued between militants and SFs. "During searches in late noon hours, the militant was found lying dead and his body has now been retrieved, " official added. Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) on October 26 recovered arms and ammunition during search operation at Bhata Dhurian Nar forests of Mendhar sub-division in Poonch District, reports Daily Excelsior. As per a Police spokesman, the recovery includes an Ak-47 with magazine, 29 AK rounds, two grenades, as many detonators besides four biscuit packets, sling, socks, T-shirt full sleeves, a jacket, blankets, tiffins, two pair of shoes and one single shoe and two syringes. Read less...

SFs on October 28 (today) detained three more locals for allegedly sheltering the militants in Poonch District, reports Daily Excelsior. With the detention of the three persons including two brothers hailing from Bhatta Durrian area of Mendhar tehsil (revenue unit), a total of 20 locals, including some women, have been detained during the operation. Read less...