Jammu: Army today said that it was planning a final assault to neutralise the terrorists holed up in Bhati Dar in Poonch where an encounter between the ultras and security forces has been on for a week now.

The operation has been "slow" in the area to minimise the casualties among the security forces, Lt Col A S N Acharya said here.

The spokesman said that firing took place at two places in the area around 0630 hours and 0930 hours today and it was effectively retaliated by the troops.

Bad weather and the hilly terrain of the area were acting as constraints for the army, he said, adding some food items and radio sets have been recovered since yesterday from the caves where the militants were holed up.

While three security force personnel have laid down their lives during the operation, four ultras are presumed dead. The bodies of the terrorists have not been recovered so far, he said.
Source : PTI