Forces spotted Pahalgam attackers 'four times, exchanged fire once'

SECURITY FORCES WERE able to locate the Pahalgam attackers "at least four times" in different spots over the past five days, came "very close" to cornering them in the forests of South Kashmir — and, on one such occasion, even exchanged fire with them, it has been learnt.

- DEEPITIAN TIWARY

The terrorists were located through information obtained from local residents, intelligence inputs and combing operations, sources said. "It's a cat and mouse game. There have been moments where they have been visibly located. But by the time they could be engaged, they had escaped. The forests are very thick and it's not easy to chase someone even after visibly locating them. But we are sure we will get them, it's only a matter of days," an officer from the military establishment said.