An encounter between militants and security forces in Poonch is still underway as fresh exchange of fire was reported between the two sides at the mini secretariat building Monday morning. According to updates, some militants are apparently present inside the building and have started firing at intermittent intervals since the early hours of Monday.
As reported, security forces and police return the assault as drones are being used to ascertain the exact location of militants to pin them down. Three militants were killed and an elderly couple was rescued during day-long encounters at two separate locations by police and security forces on Sunday. In the entire operation, a police constable was killed and five others, including two policemen, two army men, and a civilian, were injured.
Johny William, the DIG Rajouri-Poonch zone, said on Sunday evening, that though three militants have been killed and firing from their side stopped, the operation has not yet been concluded. While they had cleared the private building adjacent to the Army Brigade Headquarters by Sunday night, after the killing of one militant and rescuing hostages there, the search inside the mini secretariat building was incomplete as security forces and police suspected the presence of some more militants there.
The town of Poonch was struck by two groups of militants on Sunday, with one holding an elderly couple hostage inside a private residential building adjacent to Army’s Brigade Headquarters and another firing at police and security forces from inside the under construction mini secretariat building situated opposite to the office of Poonch district police chief.
