IED defused, youth detained in Poonch; searches continue

Security personnel in action near the site of an encounter with militants at Nar Khas area at Mendhar in Poonch district on Thursday. —Excelsior/Rahi Kapoor
POONCH, OCT 21 (UNI)- Security personnel in action near the site of an encounter with terrorists at Nar Khas area at Mendhar in Poonch district on Thursday. UNI PHOTO-45U

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: As search operation for the militants entered 11th day today in Poonch, Army recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and later defused it while a youth was detained for clicking photographs of some locations in Bhimber Gali area of Mendhar by the security personnel and later handed over to police.
Sources said an Army patrol party detected the IED fitted in the branch of a tree in the forest area of Sawalkot in Ratangir ridge of Poonch district.
“A Bomb Disposal Squad was rushed to the spot which destroyed the IED. With the destruction of the IED, a potential tragedy was averted,” sources said, adding the IED was capable of causing extensive damage.
Earlier in the day, troops detained a youth who was clicking photographs of sensitive locations with his mobile telephone at Chack Post in Bhimber Gali area of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district.
He has been identified as Mohammad Jameel, 24, son of Mohammad Aalam, a resident of Dargaloon.
Army later handed over the youth to Gursai Police Station for questioning and examine his mobile telephone.
Meanwhile, search operations by the Army in Bhatta Durrian forests of Mendhar continued for 11th day today with no success against the militants.
Nine Army soldiers have been martyred in Chamrer forests of Surankote and Bhatta Durrian of Mendhar during the operations. The martyrs include two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs).