Dachigam operation enters 3rd day

Srinagar, Dec 4: The counter-terrorism operation in the dense forests of Dachigam National Park entered its third day on Wednesday, with security forces conducting extensive searches in the upper reaches of the park and its adjoining areas.

The operation follows the killing of a terrorist on Tuesday and aims to neutralise any remaining threats in the area.

Police said that joint parties of security forces have expanded their search to include the upper areas of Khonmoh and Tral, which lie on the fringes of the Dachigam forest.

These locations are being combed thoroughly, as Police suspect terrorists may attempt to escape through the rugged and less-travelled terrain.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, Vidhi Kumar Birdi said searches will continue.

“Searches will continue and we have apprehensions that terrorists might try to cross through the backside of Dachigam into adjoining areas,” IGP Birdi told Greater Kashmir. “Intense searches are underway in the upper reaches and the connecting area.”

The search operation was briefly paused on Tuesday night but resumed early Wednesday morning with heightened intensity.

“The vast and difficult terrain of Dachigam presents challenges, but security forces are determined to ensure no terrorist presence remains,” said another Police official involved in the operation.

On Tuesday, security forces killed Category “A” Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist, Junaid Ahmed Bhat.

Bhat was implicated in the October 20 attack in Gagangir area of Ganderbal, where a local doctor and six non-local labourers were killed near a tunnel construction site.

Dachigam National Park, spread across 141 sq km in the Zabarwan mountain range, holds strategic importance.

It borders the districts of Pulwama in Tral and Ganderbal, offering terrorists a potential corridor for movement between south and central Kashmir.

The rugged terrain, dense forests, and proximity to sensitive areas make it a challenging but critical zone for security forces to monitor.

“Troops equipped with drones, sniffer dogs, and advanced surveillance systems are conducting ground and aerial reconnaissance to track any terrorist present in the area,” the officer said.