Mobile Internet Ceased During Anti-Terror Operation in Poonch, Rajouri, J&K

Early on Saturday, mobile Internet services were shut off in the Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir while security forces carried out a large search and rescue operation to find the terrorists responsible for the recent ambush on two Army trucks that claimed the lives of five troops, according to officials. Following the unexplained deaths of three people who were supposedly taken up by the Army for interrogation and the widespread outcry following the release of recordings allegedly depicting the suspects being tortured, the mobile Internet connections in the twin border districts were suspended. Although the Army and civic authorities are keeping quiet about the situation on the ground, official sources reported that mobile Internet services were banned in the districts of Poonch and Rajouri as a preventive measure against rumors and to stop individuals from causing any disruptions to law and order. According to the sources, senior Army, police, and civic officers are keeping an eye on the situation. They also mentioned that extra police and paramilitary forces had been stationed in high-risk areas of the districts to keep calm. Five soldiers were killed and two more were injured late on Thursday afternoon when three to four highly armed terrorists attacked an army gypsy and a truck at Dhatyar Morh, which is under the Surankote police station’s jurisdiction in Poonch and is between Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz. Following the assault, it is reported that the terrorists stole some of the soldiers’ weapons and disfigured the bodies of at least two soldiers. As soon as the incident occurred, a large search operation was conducted throughout the heavily forested parts of Rajouri, including Thanamandi. However, the officials reported that they had not yet established a new contact with the terrorists who were escaping. Three people who were among those the Army had held for interrogation in relation to Thursday’s incident passed away inexplicably on Friday. According to the sources, the bodies have been given to their relatives so they can perform final rites while the inquiry into their deaths is ongoing. The deceased were identified as Shabir Ahmad (32), Mohd Showket (27), and Safeer Hussain (43), all of Topa Peer village in Bufliaz. However, the reason for their deaths was not immediately revealed.