At least 24 people have been detained for questioning as the hunt for the terrorists behind the ambush in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district entered its third day on Wednesday, officials said.&nbsp;Five army personnel were killed in the ambush.

The search operation by the army and police is underway amid intermittent heavy rain in dense forests across four districts, besides Kathua. It was launched from three different areas -- Kathua, Udhampur and Bhaderwah, officials said.

Security forces have detained 24 people for questioning in connection with the ambush, they said, as efforts continued to track down and neutralise the terrorists who are believed to be hiding in a forest.

The officials said another search operation is underway in the higher reaches of the Doda district, where a gunfight took place between terrorists and security forces on Tuesday evening, a day after the ambush in Kathua.

On the search operation linked to the Kathua ambush, the officials said army and police personnel are also deployed in dense forests in different parts of Udhampur, Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts.

Fresh searches were also launched in the Lala Chack area of Samba, Manjakote area of Rajouri and Surankote of Poonch on Wednesday morning, they said.

On Monday, terrorists ambushed a patrol party on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountainous road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, around 150 km from the Kathua district headquarters, killing five army personnel and injuring as many.&nbsp; &nbsp;

From the Bhaderwah side, security personnel are moving cautiously because of the area's challenging topography, thick foliage, and natural caves, the officials said.

Personnel of the army's special forces "Para" unit have also been deployed to conduct surgical operations in specific areas, they said.

Officials said the search teams are being supported by helicopter and UAV surveillance. In addition, sniffer dogs have been deployed and metal detectors are being used, particularly in dense forest areas, of the region.

They said a team of the National Investigation Agency has visited the scene of the ambush and is assisting police in the probe.

On the Doda search operation, officials said police and army personnel are combing the Ghadi Bhagwah forest area, which is around 35 km east of Doda town and borders Kishtwar district.

The operation to hunt down two terrorists, who are believed to have suffered injuries in the Tuesday encounter, resumed early Wednesday. The terrorists are yet to be traced, the officials said.

In the backdrop of the ambush in Badnota in Kathua, residents of Badnota village and its adjoining villages said they were concerned about their safety.

They have demanded that village defence groups be sanctioned arms for their self-defence and to effectively tackle threats posed by terrorists.

"The government should provide weapons and training to us, we are ready to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with our forces against the terrorists,” Jagdish Raj, a local, said.

Punkaj, a 20-year-old student, said the ambush has caused fear among the local populace but “the situation changes altogether when you have weapons in your hands”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-people-scream-run-for-life-as-massive-landslide-blocks-badrinath-highway-in-joshimath-739586">Watch: People scream, run for life as massive landslide blocks Badrinath Highway in Joshimath</a>

"We can swiftly move into the forests and help tackle the threat of terrorism,” he said, demanding a special recruitment drive for the local youth of the area.

Shahid Ahmad, who claimed to have moved from the higher reaches to Machedi due to terror threat, said Muslims and Hindus of the area want peace and are ready to assist security forces in wiping out terrorism.

“Our eyes filled with tears on the loss of our soldiers. Such an attack had never happened (here) even during the peak of terrorism over two decades ago,” he said, adding that the government should provide weapons and training to them to fight the menace.

Ahmad said innocent villagers, who have moved with their flocks of livestock to the upper reaches, are compelled to provide food to terrorists as they threatened at gunpoint.

“We are with our forces in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

At least 24 people have been detained for questioning as the hunt for the terrorists behind the ambush in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district entered its third day on Wednesday, officials said.

At least 24 people have been detained for questioning as the hunt for the terrorists behind the ambush in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district entered its third day on Wednesday, officials said. Five army personnel were killed in the ambush. The search operation by the army and police is underway amid intermittent heavy rain in dense forests across four districts, besides Kathua. It was launched from three different areas -- Kathua, Udhampur and Bhaderwah, officials said. Security forces have detained 24 people for questioning in connection with the ambush, they said, as efforts continued to track down and neutralise the terrorists who are believed to be hiding in a forest. The officials said another search operation is underway in the higher reaches of the Doda district, where a gunfight took place between terrorists and security forces on Tuesday evening, a day after the ambush in Kathua. On the search operation linked to the Kathua ambush, the officials said army and police personnel are also deployed in dense forests in different parts of Udhampur, Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts. Fresh searches were also launched in the Lala Chack area of Samba, Manjakote area of Rajouri and Surankote of Poonch on Wednesday morning, they said. On Monday, terrorists ambushed a patrol party on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountainous road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, around 150 km from the Kathua district headquarters, killing five army personnel and injuring as many. From the Bhaderwah side, security personnel are moving cautiously because of the area's challenging topography, thick foliage, and natural caves, the officials said. Personnel of the army's special forces "Para" unit have also been deployed to conduct surgical operations in specific areas, they said. Officials said the search teams are being supported by helicopter and UAV surveillance. In addition, sniffer dogs have been deployed and metal detectors are being used, particularly in dense forest areas, of the region. They said a team of the National Investigation Agency has visited the scene of the ambush and is assisting police in the probe. On the Doda search operation, officials said police and army personnel are combing the Ghadi Bhagwah forest area, which is around 35 km east of Doda town and borders Kishtwar district. The operation to hunt down two terrorists, who are believed to have suffered injuries in the Tuesday encounter, resumed early Wednesday. The terrorists are yet to be traced, the officials said. In the backdrop of the ambush in Badnota in Kathua, residents of Badnota village and its adjoining villages said they were concerned about their safety. They have demanded that village defence groups be sanctioned arms for their self-defence and to effectively tackle threats posed by terrorists. "The government should provide weapons and training to us, we are ready to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with our forces against the terrorists,” Jagdish Raj, a local, said. Punkaj, a 20-year-old student, said the ambush has caused fear among the local populace but “the situation changes altogether when you have weapons in your hands”. Also read: Watch: People scream, run for life as massive landslide blocks Badrinath Highway in Joshimath "We can swiftly move into the forests and help tackle the threat of terrorism,” he said, demanding a special recruitment drive for the local youth of the area. Shahid Ahmad, who claimed to have moved from the higher reaches to Machedi due to terror threat, said Muslims and Hindus of the area want peace and are ready to assist security forces in wiping out terrorism. “Our eyes filled with tears on the loss of our soldiers. Such an attack had never happened (here) even during the peak of terrorism over two decades ago,” he said, adding that the government should provide weapons and training to them to fight the menace. Ahmad said innocent villagers, who have moved with their flocks of livestock to the upper reaches, are compelled to provide food to terrorists as they threatened at gunpoint. “We are with our forces in the fight against terrorism,” he said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Kathua attack: 24 held as J&K forces conduct search operation for terrorists in rain-soaked forests

On Tuesday (July 9), security forces engaged terrorists in a forested area of Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district.

According to security officials, the shootout began when the forces conducted a search and cordon operation in the Ghadi Bhagwah forest after receiving information about the presence of terrorists. The terrorists are Pakistan-based, said reports.&nbsp;

A group of terrorists was trapped in Doda on Tuesday afternoon, following which the security forces took the position and encircled the area, said a senior police official. At around 5.15 pm, the encounter started in the Gadi Bhagwah forest area, which is located in the upper reaches of Doda.&nbsp;

A cordon and search operation was launched following which the terrorists opened fire on the security personnel.

According to officials, heavy shooting was ongoing between the two sides when the last reports were received.&nbsp;

This follows the killing of five soldiers in the Kathua district, approximately 200 km away, in a coordinated terror attack on two military trucks carrying at least a dozen troops on Monday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sit-probe-blames-mismanagement-for-hathras-stampede-six-officials-suspended-conspiracy-not-ruled-out-739290">SIT probe blames mismanagement for Hathras stampede: Six officials suspended; Conspiracy not ruled out</a>

The Kathua attack was the second assault on the Army within 48 hours; on Sunday, terrorists targeted a military camp in Rajouri. Although one soldier was injured, the attack was successfully repelled.

Reports indicate that over 60 foreign terrorists, trained in jungle warfare, may be operating in the Jammu region alone,&nbsp;across all 10 districts of the province.

(With inputs from agencies)

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On Tuesday (July 9), security forces engaged terrorists in a forested area of Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district. According to security officials, the shootout began when the forces conducted a search and cordon operation in the Ghadi Bhagwah forest after receiving information about the presence of terrorists.

On Tuesday (July 9), security forces engaged terrorists in a forested area of Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district. According to security officials, the shootout began when the forces conducted a search and cordon operation in the Ghadi Bhagwah forest after receiving information about the presence of terrorists. The terrorists are Pakistan-based, said reports. A group of terrorists was trapped in Doda on Tuesday afternoon, following which the security forces took the position and encircled the area, said a senior police official. At around 5.15 pm, the encounter started in the Gadi Bhagwah forest area, which is located in the upper reaches of Doda. A cordon and search operation was launched following which the terrorists opened fire on the security personnel. According to officials, heavy shooting was ongoing between the two sides when the last reports were received. This follows the killing of five soldiers in the Kathua district, approximately 200 km away, in a coordinated terror attack on two military trucks carrying at least a dozen troops on Monday. Also read: SIT probe blames mismanagement for Hathras stampede: Six officials suspended; Conspiracy not ruled out The Kathua attack was the second assault on the Army within 48 hours; on Sunday, terrorists targeted a military camp in Rajouri. Although one soldier was injured, the attack was successfully repelled. Reports indicate that over 60 foreign terrorists, trained in jungle warfare, may be operating in the Jammu region alone, across all 10 districts of the province. (With inputs from agencies)

Encounter begins in J&K’s Doda district as security forces trap group of terrorists

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Kathua attack: 24 held as J&K forces conduct search operation for terrorists in rain-soaked forests

Encounter begins in J&K’s Doda district as security forces trap group of terrorists