New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to visit Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow, days after a terror attack on two army vehicles that left four soldiers dead in Poonch. Accompanied by top Army and civilian officials, he will review the situation on the ground. He will also hold meetings with top security officials regarding the measures being taken to deal with the situation.
His visit follows Chief of Army staff (CoAS) General Manoj Pande's visit to the spot on Monday, when he reviewed the anti-terror operation in progress in Surankote and Rajouri district's Thanamandi forest belt.
Before chairing a high-level security review meeting at Raj Bhawan In Jammu, Mr Singh is also expected to meet the locals in Poonch to reassure people that justice will be done following the death of three civilians and injuries to several others death of three civilians after they were detained by troops for questioning allegedly in the custody of the security forces.
Several villagers were detained for questioning on Friday -- a day after terrorists targeted two Army vehicles at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Buffliaz in Poonch on Thursday.
A purported video showing troops beating and torturing civilians had gone viral. The authenticity of the video has not been established even as the injured claim that they are the ones seen in the video.
The army has already removed a brigade commander and two other officers and asked them to join the inquiry. A court of inquiry was ordered and the army declared that it has zero tolerance for violence against civilians.
Six days on, security forces are still searching for the terrorists behind the ambush. Cordon and search operations have been on and sniffer dogs have been deployed in the area.
The Pir Panjal region - Rajouri and Poonch districts - was free from terrorism since 2003. It resurfaced in 2021 with some major attacks on the army in October 2021. Over the last seven months, 20 soldiers of army including officers and special forces commandos were killed.
The region has a long and treacherous border with Pakistan. Despite massive security presence and fencing along the Line of Control, infiltration appears to be on. The army has said around 25-30 foreign terrorists may be operating in the region.
This is the second visit of the Defence Minister in last seven months. He visited Rajouri in May after twin terror attacks on the army in which 10 soldiers were killed.
A month ago, two army officers and three soldiers lost their lives in a gunbattle with terrorists in Rajouri.
Two Pakistani terrorists were eliminated after an extended encounter. Sources said one of them was identified as Quari, a Lashkar-e-Taiba sniper and explosives expert active in the area for over a year. He was involved in at least three terror incidents, sources have said.