Jammu, Sept 05: As the engagement between security forces and seven militants in Ghati area of Kathua headed for the fifth day, a helicopter recce was carried out today to identify the exact location of the ultras who are believed to have made make-shift hideouts behind big rocks and beneath dense bushes. A chopper made at least three sorties in the area late in the afternoon to prepare a graphic picture of the topography and location of terrorists which would help in shaping the strategy to flush out the holed up militants, official sources said.

Earlier in the day, the terrorists stopped firing for a brief period since morning but resumed at around noon, they said. Troops started closing in towards the area from where the terrorists have been firing at the advancing forces, the sources said.

The area of operation has come down from four sq km to 1.7 sw km as special columns of Jammu and Kashmir light infantry launched rigorous searches amid exchanges of fire with militants from 1210 pm, the sources said.

"The intermittent firing from militants was still on when, they said. The troops and police personnel have further tightened the security cordon and resort to "wait and watch" strategy to choke food and water supply to the militants. "The militants may have made safe hideouts and planted mines around them to stop advancement of security forces. That is why we are going in a planned manner to delay the operation in order to avoid casualties," they said.

Bureau Report