Early on December 23, mobile Internet services were shut off in the Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir while security forces carried out a large search and rescue operation to find the terrorists responsible for the recent ambush on two Army trucks that claimed the lives of five troops, according to officials.
The inexplicable deaths of three people who were apparently taken up by the Army for questioning and the great anger that resulted from the release of recordings allegedly depicting the suspects being tortured led to the suspension of mobile Internet access in the twin border regions.
Official sources indicated that mobile Internet connections were suspended in the districts of Poonch and Rajouri as a preventive measure to combat rumor-mongering and stop miscreants from generating any law and order issues, even though both Army and civil authorities are mum about the actual situation.
The sources stated that in order to ensure peace, more police and paramilitary forces were stationed in sensitive areas of the districts and that senior Army, police, and civic officers were keeping an eye on the situation.
Five soldiers were killed and two others were injured late on Thursday afternoon when three to four highly armed terrorists attacked an army camp and a truck at Dhatyar Morh, which is under the Surankote police station's jurisdiction in Poonch and is between Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz.
It was alleged that the terrorists stole some of the soldiers' weapons and disfigured the bodies of at least two soldiers.
Following the incident, a large search and rescue operation was initiated in the heavily forested areas, including Thanamandi in Rajouri.
However, according to the officials, there has been no new communication with the terrorists who are escaping.
Three people who were being questioned by the Army in relation to the attack on Thursday passed away inexplicably on Friday.
While the inquiry into their deaths is ongoing, their corpses have been turned over to their relatives for final ceremonies.
Safeer Hussain (43), Mohd Showket (27) and Shabir Ahmad (32) of Topa Peer village in Bufliaz were recognized as the deceased; however, the reason for their demise was not immediately known.
