At least twelve suspects have been detained for questioning while a massive cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) continued for the second day on Saturday as security forces continue to probe the terrorist attack on an Indian Army truck that left five soldiers dead in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.

According to officials, a large-scale CASO bolstered by drones and sniffer dogs is currently underway in Bhata Dhurian-Tota Gali and neighbouring areas of the border district to hunt down the terrorists who carried out the attack even as twelve people have been detained and are being questioned in connection with the April 20 attack.

They said that utmost caution is being exercised during the CASO as the terrorists may have rigged the dense forests with deep gorges and caves with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Following the attack, traffic on the Bhimber Gali-Poonch road was stopped and people have been advised to go to Poonch via Mendhar.

Reports said that Border Security Force (BSF) Director General S L Thaosen and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Mukesh Singh, besides top officials from the National Security Guard (NSG) conducted a security review of the border belt and also visited the scene of the attack.

They said that fourteen people were detained for questioning and two of them were later released.

On Thursday, April 20, five Indian Army jawans were killed after their Vehicle Caught Fire on the Poonch-Jammu highway in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to reports, an army vehicle caught fire in Bhatta Durian Forest in BG Sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir resulting in the deaths of five Army personnel and injuries to another.

As per preliminary investigations, the Army truck was carrying fruits and other items to a forward village for Iftar that was supposed to be hosted by the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles unit on Thursday evening.

Reports quoting sources said the attack is suspected to have been carried out by a group of three to four terrorists who may have used a sticky bomb or a grenade due to which the Army Truck Caught Fire.

They said the conspirators and attackers may have spent over a year in Poonch and adjacent Rajouri to get a lay of the land, adding that terror outfit Jammu and Kashmir Gaznavi Force (JKGF) is said to be active in the area and its “commander”, Rafiq Ahmed alias Rafiq Nayi, hails from the region.

According to a report, the terrorists used armour-piercing bullets and a sticky bomb to target the Army vehicle that was carrying fruits, vegetables and other items for an Iftar party which was to be hosted by them in a frontier village.

As per an India Today report, sticky bombs—which can be attached to vehicles and set to explode via timers or detonated remotely—and armour-piercing steel core bullets were used in the Poonch terror attack.

Quoting sources, the report said that forensics found evidence of 36 rounds, including armour-piercing rounds being fired at the Army truck and also recovered two grenade pins from the scene, besides also finding evidence of Kerosene vapours near the charred truck.

As per reports, 7.62 MM steel core armor-piercing bullets that are Made in China, were used in the attack.

Army sources said the truck caught fire because of the likely use of grenades.

The post Poonch terror attack: 12 held for questioning, CASO on for 2nd day as BSF, NSG review border belt appeared first on APN News.