Forces continue search operation against terrorists

A day after the death of a soldier in an encounter in J&K's Kishtwar, security forces continued search operations in forest areas on Friday to track down the terrorists involved in the gunfight.

- FAYAZ WANI @Srinagar

AT least 31 schools have been damaged in Pakistani troops' mortar and artillery shelling in border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir after the launch of Operation Sindoor May 11.

The twin border districts in Jammu were the worst hit by Pakistani shelling. At least 16 people — 13 in Poonch and 3 in Rajouri — were killed. Hundreds of structures, including residential houses and educational institutions, were damaged. Poonch chief education officer (CEO) Iftikhar Hussain Shah told this newspaper that 23 schools in the district were hit by shelling. Of the 23, a higher secondary school and a middle school were fully damaged.