Security forces on Thursday launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam an area which is a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra commencing later this month.
A cordon and search operation was launched this morning at Sheikh Mohalla Wularhama in Pahalgam area of Anantnag district following information about presence of militants in the area, a police official said.
He said the security forces fired some warning shots in the air to establish contact with the militants but there was no retaliation. The operation concluded at 10:30 am without any positive results, the official said.
He said during the withdrawal of the security forces from the area, some persons pelted stones upon them. They were chased away, the official said, adding no one was injured.
Pahalgam is one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra which is scheduled to begin on June 29. The other is Baltal near Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir police and army launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Loran area of Mandi tehsil in Poonch district late Wednesday night following inputs about the presence of around six militants.
An official said that around 12-15 militants have crossed into this side from across the border during recent firing and shelling incidents along the Line of Control.
“A joint party of SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police and 25 RR of army launched an operation at 1:30 am in Khori Wali and Suman areas of Loran Mandi which continued until 8 am,” said the official.
He said that the militants might have fled the area after being alerted by the noise of their vehicles.
