Srinagar: The anti-militancy operation in Uri Sector of Baramulla district entered its third day even as mobile services were restored in the area on Tuesday evening after two days of suspension.
“Search operation still on in Uri,” Defence Ministry spokesman, Col Emran Mosavi said here.
Officials said that an infiltration attempt was detected late Saturday evening and since then searches are continuing. “A vast area is under cordon,” senior Army officials said here, adding that Special Forces have also been inducted into operation.
“The area is having dense forests and it is being combed,” senior Army officials said, adding that drones and sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service to locate militants, if any.
“An alert has been issued around the security camps located in the area,” they said, adding that soldiers deployed in entire Uri Sector are in a state of high alertness. The area, they said, where the suspicious movement was observed is near Gohalan.
On Monday, the authorities snapped all telephone and internet services in Uri as a precautionary measure. Security officers believe that a fresh group of infiltrators could have used mobile to get in touch with local contacts.
General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps, Lt Gen D P Pandey said on Monday that they are looking for them. “There is an operation which is ongoing for the last 24 hours in Uri, in which we felt that there is an infiltration attempt which has been made. We are looking for them. Are they on this side or have they gone back after making an attempt, that issue has not been clarified or verified on the ground,” Lt Gen Pandey had said.
He had said that there was no ceasefire violation this year and they are prepared for any ceasefire violation. “But frankly, there has been no instigation from across the border,” said Lt General DP Pandey had said.
Pertinently, Uri is stated to be the shortest route for infiltration. The Sector is having a three-tier security, and the security forces have prevented such bids in the past. “Terrorists try to infiltrate from across the border most in September and October before passes and ridges generally used for the infiltration close due to heavy snowfall,” a senior officer of Baramulla base 19 Infantry Division said. “We are there to prevent them.”
Meanwhile, after two days of suspension, the cellular network services that included internet has been restored in Uri.
The services were suspended in wake of massive search operation launched in Uri sector of Baramulla district.
“Cellular services have been restored in Uri. They were suspended as a precautionary measure in Uri tehsil,” officials said.