Srinagar: An Area domination operation launched by forces is underway covering more than a dozen villages in District Shopian since Thursday morning.
According to local sources, forces laid cordon around at least 13 villages of Shopian district in south Kashmir.
The villages under siege include, Kadgam, Barbugh, Chiterwich, Imamsahib, Hillow, Manihal, Amurbugh, Badimarg, Yamrach, Munad Gofan, Woyen, and DK Pora.
According to local sources, the heavy forces deployment was already present in these area when they woke up.
The Area domination operation underway since morning is a joint opereation by Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force, Special Operation Group of Police and jammu and Kashmir police.
“All the entry and exit points of the areas under operation have been sealed,” a police officer said wishing anonymity, and added that ‘the operation is to flush out militants, however no contact has been made till now’.
This is for the fourth time in last five months when forces launched such a massive search operation in Shopian district.
According to sources todays operation has been launched after increased militant attacks on Police personnel, political activists and militant movements in south Kashmir.
“The recent surge in the militant activities is one of the reasons but we need to sanitize the area of terrorists,” a senior police officer confided.
The first Area Domination exercise took place in May this year when around 17 villages were put under siege.
Superintendent of Police Shopian, Ambarkar Shriram confirmed to INS that the operation is under way in more than a dozen villages.
“This is a routine Area Domination operation,” Shriram said.
(pic used for representational purposes only, has no relation with the actual event)
