Heavy exchange of fire continues Poonch

Militants and security forces exchanged fire overnight as the gunbattle in Bhati Dhar forest in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir continued for the eighth day on Thursday.

Intermittent firing continued throughout last night in the forest area in Mendhar region where a few militants are still holed up even as the security forces were planning a final assault to neutralise the terrorists, defence sources said.

The troops fired rockets and lobbed smoke bombs at the cave-like hideouts of the terrorists, they said. The area continued to remain cordoned off by the troops, who are also assisted by Special Operations Group of the state police.

Police have already arrested two suspects, including a woman, and were questioning them, they said. The encounter had started on January 1 and is still continuing since then.

Three security personnel have been killed so far and four militants have also been reportedly gunned down.