In the rugged expanse of Shahsitar, nestled within the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, security forces have escalated their search efforts. Their mission: to thwart the militants responsible for the brazen assault on an Indian Air Force convoy. The attack, which occurred on a fateful Sunday, claimed the life of one IAF personnel and left four others wounded.
Pooling resources from the Army, paramilitary units, and the diligent officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, supplemented by the specialized expertise of the Special Operations Group, the search spans the dense forests and nearby residential enclaves surrounding the site of the attack.
Meanwhile, law enforcement authorities have disseminated images captured from CCTV footage, identifying three suspected militants believed to have orchestrated the deadly ambush. The convoy, ambushed with ruthless precision, witnessed the fatal demise of Corporal Vikky Pahade and inflicted injuries upon four of his comrades.
The assailants, reportedly armed with a formidable arsenal comprising United States-manufactured M4s and Russian-made AK-47s, struck with calculated ferocity. This assault marks the inaugural major offensive of the year within a region scarred by the specter of previous terror-related incidents targeting military personnel and installations.
Sources within the police force have revealed the identities of the militant trio: Illiyas, a former operative of the Pakistan Army, alongside Hadoon (or Hadun) and Abu Hamza, the clandestine alias of a senior commander affiliated with the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Following the tragic events at Shahsitar Poonch, senior officials including Core Commander of the 15 Corps and the ADGP Jammu, accompanied by GOC Romeo Force, IGP CRPF, and DIG RP Range, undertook a comprehensive inspection of the area. Their vigilance underscores the gravity of the situation, with numerous individuals apprehended for interrogation as part of the ongoing investigative efforts.