<p>The search operation to track down a group of heavily armed militants hiding in a dense forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri entered its 21st day on Sunday.</p>.<p>A total of 11 Army soldiers, including two junior commissioned officers, have been killed in one of the longest and biggest search operations in J&K in the past three weeks. The anti-militancy operation started during the intervening night of October 10 and 11.</p>.<p>The area where the operation is going on is close to the Line of Control (LoC) and the army has already deployed a specially-trained unit of para-commandos for the combing operation while drones and modern weapons are being used to track down militants.</p>.<p>“The topography of the area is giving a tough challenge to security forces in neutralising the terrorists, who are heavily armed and have come fully prepared,” sources told <em>DH</em>.</p>.<p>“The mountainous terrain, with steep slopes covered by thick forests, ravines and gorges, all provided a safe haven for the terrorists and it was difficult for the army to pin-point the militants in the forest area,” they added.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/two-soldiers-killed-in-blast-along-loc-in-jks-rajouri-1045763.html" target="_blank">Two soldiers killed in blast along LoC in J&K's Rajouri</a></strong></p>.<p>A senior police officer told <em>DH</em> the militants, who are engaged in a gunfight with security forces in the Nar Khas forest area are battle-hardened and highly motivated Pakistani ultras. “There is every possibility that they are getting back-up support from the Pakistan army as the area is near to the LoC,” he said.</p>.<p>“It will take more time to flush out the terrorists from the area as any area that is not accessible to security forces is a disadvantage to them. The terrorists are also using natural caves in the area to their advantage and besides, it seems, they have stored enough ration and ammunition,” he added.</p>.<p>On October 18, Army Chief General M M Naravane visited the forward areas along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch to review the situation. In recent months, the twin border districts in Jammu have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts.</p>.<p>Nine militants have been killed in separate encounters since June in the area which has a mixed population of Hindus and Muslims.</p>.<p>In 2003, scores of Pakistani militants had reportedly infiltrated across the LoC in Poonch and dug in for the long haul at Hilkaka, a Bakerwal village in Surankote tehsil, about 10-12 km inside the LoC. According to reports, thousands of troops with the help of the local population successfully cleared the village from militants in the operation that lasted about two weeks.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>
<p>The search operation to track down a group of heavily armed militants hiding in a dense forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri entered its 21st day on Sunday.</p>.<p>A total of 11 Army soldiers, including two junior commissioned officers, have been killed in one of the longest and biggest search operations in J&K in the past three weeks. The anti-militancy operation started during the intervening night of October 10 and 11.</p>.<p>The area where the operation is going on is close to the Line of Control (LoC) and the army has already deployed a specially-trained unit of para-commandos for the combing operation while drones and modern weapons are being used to track down militants.</p>.<p>“The topography of the area is giving a tough challenge to security forces in neutralising the terrorists, who are heavily armed and have come fully prepared,” sources told <em>DH</em>.</p>.<p>“The mountainous terrain, with steep slopes covered by thick forests, ravines and gorges, all provided a safe haven for the terrorists and it was difficult for the army to pin-point the militants in the forest area,” they added.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/two-soldiers-killed-in-blast-along-loc-in-jks-rajouri-1045763.html" target="_blank">Two soldiers killed in blast along LoC in J&K's Rajouri</a></strong></p>.<p>A senior police officer told <em>DH</em> the militants, who are engaged in a gunfight with security forces in the Nar Khas forest area are battle-hardened and highly motivated Pakistani ultras. “There is every possibility that they are getting back-up support from the Pakistan army as the area is near to the LoC,” he said.</p>.<p>“It will take more time to flush out the terrorists from the area as any area that is not accessible to security forces is a disadvantage to them. The terrorists are also using natural caves in the area to their advantage and besides, it seems, they have stored enough ration and ammunition,” he added.</p>.<p>On October 18, Army Chief General M M Naravane visited the forward areas along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch to review the situation. In recent months, the twin border districts in Jammu have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts.</p>.<p>Nine militants have been killed in separate encounters since June in the area which has a mixed population of Hindus and Muslims.</p>.<p>In 2003, scores of Pakistani militants had reportedly infiltrated across the LoC in Poonch and dug in for the long haul at Hilkaka, a Bakerwal village in Surankote tehsil, about 10-12 km inside the LoC. According to reports, thousands of troops with the help of the local population successfully cleared the village from militants in the operation that lasted about two weeks.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>