Counterterrorism Operation Sheruwali in dense forests of JKs Rajouri enters 23rd day

Jammu June 14 IANS The antiterrorist operation codenamed Operation Sheruwali in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district entered its 23rd day on SundaynbspOperation Sheruwali is being conducted in the dense Dorimal forests of the Gambir Mughlan area in Rajouri district making it one of the longest ongoing counterterror operations in the regionnbspJoint forces including the Army JampampK Police and CRPF have intensified operations across the challenging rugged forest terrainnbspThe operation is being carried out in the densely forested hills of Dorimal where steep slopes rocky mountains and thick vegetation continue to pose significant challenges to the troops on the groundDespite the difficult conditions security personnel remain on high alert conducting extensive searches additional surveillance and area domination measures to track down any suspicious movementnbspThe prolonged search operations highlight the determination of security forces to ensure peace and maintain security in the border districtnbspEarlier on June 7 an Indian Army jawan lost his life after he accidentally slipped from a rock during Operation SheruwalinbspAccording to sources the soldier was moving through the rugged and challenging mountainous terrain during the antiterror operation when he lost his balance and slipped into a rocky slope sustaining erious injuriesHe was immediately evacuated for medical treatment but later succumbed to his injuriesnbspOn May 28 heavy firing and shelling erupted in Rajouris Dorimal forest area as Operation Sheruwali reached a critical stage with security forces tightening the cordon to neutralise suspected militants hiding in the dense terrainnbspAccording to officials a massive deployment of security forces along with additional reinforcements and logistical support was rushed to the encounter site to ensure a strong and impenetrable cordon and to prevent any attempt by militants to escape through the thick forest coverThe operation is an ongoing largescale counterterrorism combing mission in the dense forest belts which was started in late MaynbspThe multiagency operation aims to locate and neutralise armed infiltrators holed up in the regions rugged mountainous terrainnbspThe twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region have reemerged as a highly sensitive hotbed for terrorist activities sharing a long and porous Line of Control LoC with Pakistan occupied Kashmir PoKBefore 2019 the region had largely been declared militancyfree However heavily armed groups often foreign mercenaries have utilised the dense forests rugged terrain and natural caves as safe hideouts to establish a renewed foothold In recent years security forces have faced repeated ambushes and attacks prompting massive areadomination and cordonandsearch operationsIANS