A brief but intense gunfight erupted in the Sinai Top area of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Friday evening between Indian security forces and terrorists suspected to be responsible for the deadly ambush on an Indian Air Force convoy earlier this month. The exchange of fire marks the latest development in a week-long manhunt for the perpetrators of the May 4 attack, which left Corporal Vikky Pahade dead and four of his colleagues injured.
Official sources have identified former Pakistani army SSG commando turned Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Illiyas Fauji as the mastermind behind the ambush, along with two other Pakistani terrorists, Abu Hamza and Handoon. Additionally, Habibullah Malik, alias Sajid Jutt, has been named as an accomplice operating from Pakistan.
CCTV footage from the area has also revealed the presence of three more Pakistani terrorists, whose identities are currently being investigated by authorities. Sources have disclosed that Pakistan is utilizing drones to smuggle weapons and ammunition to terrorists, with several Pakistani UAVs carrying weapons having been shot down in Poonch and Rajouri.
Following the ambush, a massive cordon-and-search operation was initiated by the Army, J&K Police, and CRPF, utilizing aerial surveillance and sniffer dogs to track down the terrorists believed to be hiding in the Surankote-Poonch region. Sketches of Hamza and Handoon have been released, with a reward of Rs 20 lakh offered for information leading to their capture. Authorities have also detained 26 individuals for questioning on suspicion of providing support to the terrorists.
The ongoing operation highlights the persistent threat of terrorism in the region and the dedication of Indian security forces to neutralize those responsible for such heinous acts. The situation remains fluid, and authorities are determined to bring the perpetrators to justice.
