Jammu: In an embarrassing climax, security forces on September 8 called off their weeklong operation to flush out seven militants, who were holed up in thick hilly jungles of Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, after they found no terrorists who were suspected to have escaped.

"After a thorough search of forests by the troops spread over a period of time, we have not come across any terrorists, dead or alive," inspector general of police P L Gupta told reporters.

"Therefore the search operation is being called off," he said and declined to answer to a question whether the terrorists had escaped.

He evaded an answer when asked whether the operation could be termed a failure, and merely said "operations are an ongoing process".

Gupta claimed intercepts of communication between terrorists suggested that security forces had inflicted "some casualties" on the ultras.

"But this can be confirmed only if we recover anybody," he said.

He said the presence of a "strong component" of Army and police will be maintained in the area in view of "some genuine concerns" expressed by people of the area about their security.

The step will also generate a "sense of security" amongst the people and facilitate an immediate response to any additional intelligence input indicating movement of terrorists.

PTI