A 35-year-old man from Nar village in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, died on Thursday after allegedly consuming poison when summoned for questioning in connection with the Poonch terror attack case. The man, identified as Mukhtar Hussain Shah, was reportedly not a suspect in the case but was called for questioning like most residents of his village located near the ambush site. A police official stated that Shah was perturbed due to domestic issues and was not summoned as a suspect.
The Poonch terror attack occurred on April 20 in Bhata Dhurian forest, which is known for being a notorious infiltration route for terrorists from across the Line of Control due to its topography, dense forest cover, and natural caves. Seven to eight terrorists in two groups are believed to have engineered the attack, which left five soldiers dead. The terrorists reportedly hid under a culvert on the road and launched the attack on a truck carrying fruits, vegetables, and other items to Sangiote village from the Bhimber Gali camp for an Iftar organized by the Rashtriya Rifles. Over 50 bullet marks were found on the vehicle, indicating the intensity of the firing by the terrorists.
Security forces have detained over 60 people so far in an ongoing anti-terrorist operation following the attack. The massive search and cordon operation have been extended to many areas of both Poonch and nearby Rajouri, but there has been no contact with the terrorists who fled the scene after the deadly ambush. Special forces are also engaged in the search operation, which has entered its eighth day. Agencies are using drones, sniffer dogs, and metal detectors in the operation.
Troopers involved in the operation are exercising utmost caution as the terrorists may have planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the densely forested area with deep gorges and caves. Experts from various agencies, including the National Security Guard (NSG) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have visited the site of the attack. The terrorists used steel core bullets that can penetrate an armored shield, and before fleeing, they decamped with the service weapons of the soldiers.
The Poonch terror attack case remains under investigation, and security forces are taking all necessary precautions to apprehend the terrorists responsible for the attack. The incident is a reminder of the challenges faced by security forces in the region and the continued threat of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.