Jammu: General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff, arrived in Jammu on Monday to assess the current security situation in the region amidst an extensive ongoing operation aimed at tracking down terrorists responsible for a recent attack on Army vehicles that resulted in the death of four soldiers in the border district of Poonch, according to officials.

The Army Chief reached Jammu and subsequently proceeded to the Rajouri-Poonch sector to evaluate the operational preparedness of the force and the existing security scenario, as stated by a defense spokesperson. Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain, the General Officer Commanding of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps, and senior civil administration and police officers are stationed in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch to oversee the anti-terrorist operation and maintain law and order.

The attack on the soldiers occurred after terrorists ambushed their vehicles at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Buffliaz in the Surankote area of Poonch last Thursday. In the aftermath of the assault, three civilians, aged between 27 and 42 years, were reportedly taken into custody by the Army for questioning. They were discovered dead on December 22. Officials mentioned that an extensive search operation is ongoing near the site of the ambush, covering both Surankote and the Thanamandi forest in the nearby Rajouri district.

Mobile internet services remained suspended in Poonch and Rajouri for the third consecutive day. The suspension was initiated early Saturday following the killing of the three civilians shortly after they were allegedly picked up by security personnel for questioning regarding the ambush on Thursday. On Saturday, the Jammu and Kashmir administration declared compensation and jobs for the families of the deceased civilians, stating that medico-legal formalities had been completed, and legal action in the matter had been initiated by the appropriate authority. The Army has initiated a thorough internal investigation into the deaths of the three civilians and affirmed its commitment to providing complete support and cooperation in the ongoing probe.

In a post on X on December 23, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army stated: "Search operations by the security forces are continuing in the area of operations after the incident of 21 Dec 23. Reports have been received regarding three civilian deaths in the area. The matter is under investigation. Indian Army stands committed to extending full support and cooperation in the conduct of investigations."

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