Poonch encounter continues as heavy gunfire rattles area

Poonch, Oct 18: The encounter between forces and militants at Bhata Dhurian village of Mendhar in Poonch district Monday entered fifth straight day with heavy gunfire leaving the area rattled.
An encounter started in the dense forest area of Nar Khas in Bhata Dhurian village of Mendhar sub division of Poonch district on Thursday evening after a Cordon and Search Operation was launched by forces in the area during which militants fired on army search team in which two army personnel got killed on the spot. So far the death toll of soldiers killed in Bhata Dhurian and DKG encounters has reached nine.
Two army personnel that include a Junior Commissioned Officer lost their contact with the base. Their bodies were recovered on Saturday evening. An official said that for the entire day on Monday, gunfire took place at the encounter site with the entire area rattled and heavy explosions were also heard from the site.
“An operation is going on in full swing and teams of army and police including special commandos are on job,” said officials. “Senior army and police officers are camping at the spot and monitoring the situation.”
Locals also claimed to have seen smoke coming out of the forest area where the army reportedly used heavy weaponry. On the other hand, an anti-militancy operation in the DKG near Chamrer forest area entered its eighth day on Monday.