Kathua ambush: 25 detained as search ops go on despite rains

More than 25 people have been detained by the armed forces in connection with the attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Kathua district in which five army personnel were killed and five others injured.

The search operation in the border area of Badnota, where the attack took place, continued on the third day of the incident and the army, police and CAPF teams were deployed in the forest area despite heavy rains.

The officials claimed that four infiltrators were spotted by the locals in the area along with two guides, who could have executed the attack.

The National Investigation Agency has also joined the probe. "We have questioned, summoned and detained over two dozen people. Some of the locals claim to have seen the attackers," said an official. The search operations have also been launched in neighbouring Udhampur and Doda districts also.

In Ghadi Bhagwah forest area, around 35 kms from Doda town, armed forces had a brief contact with the infiltrators on Tuesday which led to the intermittent exchange of fire. However, the infiltrators managed to flee the spot. The official claimed that the militants were injured in this operation, however, they could not trace them and the search continued in the forest area on Wednesday.

Search operations have also been launched in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Pirpanjal region. Army has deployed elite para commandos aided by drones and sniffer dogs for tactical search and operation in the thick forest areas.

The Jammu division has witnessed an increase in militant incidents over the past two years.