JAMMU, Dec 21: Security forces mounted a large-scale cordon-and-search operation across Chore Motu village and its adjoining dense forest belts in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Sunday, following reports that two unidentified terrorists raided a local resident’s home late Saturday evening to seize food supplies before melting into the wooded terrain, officials revealed.
The incident unfolded around 6:30 pm when the militants barged into Mangtu Ram’s house in Chore Motu, part of the sensitive Majalta area—located just 5 km west of Soan village, site of a fierce Dec 15 encounter where a brave policeman laid down his life clashing with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operatives. Acting swiftly on precise intelligence inputs, police and paramilitary units mobilized immediately, but the terrorists exploited the cover of darkness and thick foliage to evade capture initially.
By first light Sunday, a multi-pronged combing operation was underway, with joint teams fanning out from multiple directions to seal escape routes through the challenging forest landscape. The forested belt near the village stands fully cordoned, as security personnel deploy drones, sniffer dogs, and advanced surveillance to flush out the suspects and prevent further threats amid heightened regional vigilance.
This development revives concerns in Majalta, a known JeM infiltration corridor, where the Dec 15 gunfight erupted after tips about terrorist movements. Those militants too escaped under similar conditions, underscoring the tactical challenges posed by the area’s rugged topography and vegetation during winter operations. Officials remain tight-lipped on the terrorists’ identities or affiliations but affirmed relentless pursuit to neutralize the danger
