Jammu-Rajouri highway reopens for traffic after 2 weeks

Jammu/ Oct, 31: The authorities on Sunday morning reopened a stretch of the Jammu-Rajouri  highway for traffic  more than two weeks after it was shut in view of an ongoing counter-militancy operation in an adjoining dense forest belt, officials said.
The operation to track down a group of hiding militantds, who are responsible for the killing of nine soldiers, in Bhatti Durrian forest in Mendhar along with Surankote forest in Poonch and nearby Thanamandi in Rajouri district entered the 21st day on Sunday, the officials said.While the operation is underway, the authorities allowed traffic on the main highway between Bhimber Gali in Mendhar and Jera Wali Gali in Surankote in Poonch district, much to the relief of residents, especially taxi operators who have been demanding its reopening.
The road stretch, which passes along the cordoned-off forest belt, was closed as a precautionary measure on October 15, a day after four army personnel, including a JCO, were killed in an exchange of fire with the hiding militants in Bhatti Durrian forest, the officials said.