The search operation launched by the security to track down a group of terrorists in the forest area of Udhampur continued for the third day on Friday.
A security official said a search operation resumed today in the Jopher-Marta forests in Udhampur district.
Equipped with sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance, police, CRPF and army personnel are conducting searches in the forest area to track down three terrorists hiding in the area.
The areas have been placed under night cordons to prevent terrorists from escaping, the officials said.
On Wednesday, during a search operation by police and other security forces, contact was established with terrorists in the Jopher-Marta belt in the Ramnagar police station area of Udhampur, leading to an encounter.
“Two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Amod Ashok Nagpure.
The security agencies have expanded the scope of surveillance to Bhaderwah area of Doda district to keep a track on terrorists potentially moving between different locations in the hilly districts of the Jammu region.
Security forces have intensified surveillance in the high-altitude areas of the Bhaderwah area of Doda district, considering the melting snow in the higher meadows, a major factor contributing to infiltration during summer months.
Supported by helicopters and drones, troops are maintaining a high degree of surveillance in high-altitude areas connecting Kishtwar, Udhampur, and Kathua districts, they said.
There have been five encounters in the past 19 days in the mountainous terrains of Kathua-Udhampur-Kishtwar, in which three terrorists were killed. Four police personnel were also killed, while three other police personnel and a girl sustained injuries.
While three encounters occurred in Kathua district, one took place in Udhampur district, and one in Kishtwar district.
The security was beefed up along Jammu-Srinagar national highway and people are being frisked and vehicles being checked as a part of this measure.