Final assault on hiding terrorists in Mendhar forest expected any time.

SHYAM SOOD
RAJOURI OCTOBER 25:-‘ As the hiding place of the terrorists in the Nar Khas forest in Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district has been pinpointed on Sunday after the killing of Pakistani LeT terrorists, a final assault to eliminate them can be launched at any time within the next two days.
On Monday the 15th day of the ongoing Counter-Terrorist Operation (CTO) no contact was established with the terrorists, however, Security Forces continue to tighten the noose around the hiding place of a group of terrorists in the Nar Khas forested area.
On Sunday during the search for their (terrorists) hiding place with the help of a Pakistani terrorist Zia Mustafa, the terrorists had opened fire in which Mustafa was killed while two cops and a soldier received injuries.
As the hiding place of the terrorists has been pinpointed, Army, J&K Police, Para Commandos, and Para Military forces have sealed every escaping route, sources said.
According to reliable sources on Tuesday or Wednesday, the final assault to kill the terrorists would be launched which was delayed due to inclement weather.
A group of reportedly 5-6 terrorists is hiding in the area after October 14 contact and fire fight in which a JCO and three soldiers had attained martyrdom.
The CTO was launched on October 11, in Shahadra (Rajouri) and adjoining DKG (Poonch) areas, and in the first contact, a JCO and four soldiers had attained martyrdom in a forest near Chamrer village.
An FIR was lodged at Gursai police station after October 14 encounter in which a JCO and three soldiers had attained martyrdom and the name of Zia Mustafa also figured in the FIR.
Mustafa was arrested in 2003 in Shopian district in Kashmir and was in Kot Bhalwal Central jail in Jammu where he was in contact with LeT handlers across the LoC and with terrorists in Nar Khas forested area.
The Poonch district police approached a court at Shopian for the custody of Zia Mustafa for further interrogation in the ongoing CTO at Nar Khas.
Mustafa’s custody was given to district Poonch police and he was taken on remand from Kot Bhalwal jail to Mendhar on Saturday.
“On Sunday in the morning hours Zia Mustafa was taken to Nar Khas forest in a Bhata Durian area to identify the hiding place of the group of the terrorist with whom he allegedly was in touch from the jail,” said sources.
According to unconfirmed reports district, Poonch police has arrested three residents of Bhata Dhurian who were on their way to Nepal to flee from the country illegally.