Security forces on Thursday launched and intensified search operations across south Kashmir in the wake of the terror attack on a CRPF checkpoint near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district, even as the joint cordon-and-search operation at the main site entered its second day with an expanded area under cordon.
The primary operation, which was suspended overnight due to darkness, resumed at first light in the Nowpora Akhran area.
Additional forces have been deployed, barricades strengthened and vehicle checks intensified along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and approach roads to seal escape routes.
Armoured vehicles and Quick Reaction Teams remain in position as teams comb the forested and rural belts.GOC 15 Corps, Lieutenant General Balbir Singh, visited the spot to review the operations and take stock of the ground situation.
Senior officers of the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police are supervising the search, which is being guided by human and technical intelligence inputs.
Parallel search and area-domination efforts have been activated at multiple locations across south Kashmir as part of a coordinated response.The attack occurred around 2:15 pm on Wednesday when two heavily armed assailants emerged from a dense cluster of trees and opened fire on a CRPF naka of the 46th Battalion, deployed as a bridge guard roughly 1 to 2 km off the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near Mir Bazar.
Security personnel returned fire, but the attackers fled into the adjoining forested area.
The injured personnel have been identified as Head Constable Somveer Singh (Madhya Pradesh), Constable RakeshDass (Assam) and Constable Santosh Chandru (West Bengal).
Somveer Singh sustained a bullet injury to his arm and RakeshDass to his leg; both were reported stable.
Chandru suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen and spine and was initially critical.
Two of the injured personnel have since been discharged from hospital after treatment. The critically injured jawan was airlifted to the 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar for advanced care.
