Jammu: Using sniffer dogs and high powered mine detectors to target four to five possible hideouts, authorities on September 7 intensified the search operation to track down seven holed up Lashkar-e- Toiba (LeT) militants in Ghatti forest area as the Kathua gun battle entered the sixth day, with no signs of an immediate end.

"Sniffer dogs, high-tech mine detectors and other GPS (Global Positioning System) systems were used today as search operations have been intensified to eliminate the seven holed up Lashkar militants in Ghatti forest in Kathua since early this morning," the official sources said.

Some possible hideouts numbering four to five have been identified and security forces have begun closing in towards the area, narrowing down the distance to 1.2 sq km from four sq km, when the operation started, sources told reporters in Jammu on September 7.

"It is a difficult operation in dense forests and ravines. We want to go slow but ensure elimination of all seven terrorists with minimum casualties on our own side," they said.

The firing from militants' side had stopped on September 6 after one to two Pika gun rounds were fired by militants around 11:00 hours. Due to this fact sniffer dogs, high tech mine detectors and GPS was put in place and intensified searches launched from this morning.

A chopper made at least three sorties on Friday (Sept 5) in the area to prepare a graphic picture of the topography and location of terrorists, which helped in identifying the five possible hideouts, the sources said.

After visiting the spot, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 16 Corps, Lt Gen T P S Brar denied the reports that militants might have slipped away from the forest belt.

"We have confirmed reports that the militants were well within the Army cordon and are lying low. The operation to eliminate them, will continue till the job is completed," he told reporters.

As per wireless intercepts, two to three militants were injured in the gun battle, he said adding, "By not firing for last two days they want to misguide us that they were killed".

The militants gave various wireless messages to confuse security agencies like five mujahideen have died, we have escaped from the area and two to three colleagues are injured, he said.

Meanwhile, two more columns of Sikh regiment were sent to the area on September 7 to assist the troops of JKLI (Jammu Kashmir Light Infantry), Sikh regiment, CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), VDCs (Village defence Committees) and police in the joint operation, the sources said.

So far, one policeman has been killed and 11 others injured in the gun battle. The operation started on September 2 on information given by sarpanch Devinder Singh, who was abducted and managed to escape from militants' clutches on night of September 1.

PTI