Jammu : Joint security forces on Tuesday started a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district after noticing suspicious movement near a tunnel under construction.

Officials said that a security guard on duty at the construction site noticed the suspicious movement and fired three to four rounds as a precautionary measure.

“No loss of life or damage to property has been reported. Following the incident, a joint search operation was launched around 6 a.m. today by personnel of J&K Police, Special Operation Group (SOG) and CRPF in the forest areas of Bhatadurian, Sangiot and adjoining areas,” officials said, adding that no contact or exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the terrorists has taken place so far.

Security forces have launched massive joint cordon-and-search operations (CASO) across the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in the past as well following multiple reports of suspicious movement and security alerts near the Line of Control (LoC).

In Poonch district, a massive joint search was initiated in the Mendhar sector (including Bhatadurian, Sangiot, and Behari Rakh forests) after the security guard reported suspicious movement near an under-construction tunnel.

Additional operations continue in Surankote and Mankote.

In Rajouri District also, operations were intensified in border belts and near Nowshera following intelligence inputs and local reports of suspicious individuals spotted near village sectors.

Operations are conducted by the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, the Jammu and Kashmir Police Special Operations Group, and the CRPF.

High-tech equipment, including drones and sniffer dogs, has been deployed to sanitise dense forest terrain and rugged mountain tracks.

The security forces have intensified a series of coordinated, intelligence-led Cordon and Search Operations across the Pir Panjal region, specifically focusing on specific village corridors and dense forest clusters in both Poonch and Rajouri districts.

The latest multi-agency operations are targeting active, heavily armed terrorist groups believed to be shifting locations within the rugged border belt.

Jammu Joint security forces on Tuesday started a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district after noticing suspicious movement near a tunnel under construction.

Officials said that a security guard on duty at the construction site noticed the suspicious movement and fired three to four rounds as a precautionary measure.

“No loss of life or damage to property has been reported. Following the incident, a joint search operation was launched around 6 a.m. today by personnel of J&K Police, Special Operation Group (SOG) and CRPF in the forest areas of Bhatadurian, Sangiot and adjoining areas,” officials said, adding that no contact or exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the terrorists has taken place so far.

Security forces have launched massive joint cordon-and-search operations (CASO) across the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in the past as well following multiple reports of suspicious movement and security alerts near the Line of Control (LoC).

In Poonch district, a massive joint search was initiated in the Mendhar sector (including Bhatadurian, Sangiot, and Behari Rakh forests) after the security guard reported suspicious movement near an under-construction tunnel.

Additional operations continue in Surankote and Mankote.

In Rajouri District also, operations were intensified in border belts and near Nowshera following intelligence inputs and local reports of suspicious individuals spotted near village sectors.

Operations are conducted by the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, the Jammu and Kashmir Police Special Operations Group, and the CRPF.

High-tech equipment, including drones and sniffer dogs, has been deployed to sanitise dense forest terrain and rugged mountain tracks.

The security forces have intensified a series of coordinated, intelligence-led Cordon and Search Operations across the Pir Panjal region, specifically focusing on specific village corridors and dense forest clusters in both Poonch and Rajouri districts.

The latest multi-agency operations are targeting active, heavily armed terrorist groups believed to be shifting locations within the rugged border belt.

New Delhi, Aug 11: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Tuesday raised questions over the arrest of one of the accused in the alleged Jharkhand paper leak case and sought answers from Chief Minister Hemant Soren regarding the involvement of senior officials.

Nishikant Dubey took to social media ‘X’ and said, “From whose office/home of a big official was the arrest of Dharmendra, one of the accused in the Jharkhand paper leak, carried out? Chief Minister Hemant Soren Ji, that official has an old account of stains too, what will it be, a cover-up or action? Rahul Gandhi ji doesn’t even have strength left in him anymore, keep beating the children, keep holding press conferences, keep playing Twitter-Twitter.”

The BJP leader’s remarks came amid the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination process.

Former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Chairman L. Khiangte was arrested by the state CID on Monday in connection with allegations related to the commission’s 14th Civil Services Examination.

Khiangte has been under scrutiny over the empanelment of TDPL, a company that was reportedly blacklisted, for conducting the JPSC 14th Civil Services Examination.

A former Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, Khiangte resigned from his position as JPSC Chairman on July 22. At the time, he stated that his resignation was aimed at ensuring a fair and impartial investigation into the matter.

Several employees of TDPL have also been arrested in connection with the case. Those arrested include TDPL Director Ramveer Singh, Marketing Manager Abhay Tiwari, Accountant Rakshak Singh, and technical programmers Usman and Ebad.

On the JPSC side, Deputy Controller of Examinations Shweta Kumari Gupta, staff member Sonu Kumar, and computer operator Dharmendra Kumar have also been arrested as part of the investigation.

Dharmendra Kumar was also questioned for the second consecutive day on August 7. The investigating agency is gathering information about his role, responsibilities, and the specific officials whose emails he managed.

TDPL accountant Rakshak Singh was also interrogated about contacts with candidates, alleged tampering with OMR sheets, and financial transactions.

Jaipur, Aug 11: A private school bus carrying around 25 children caught fire near Dhauva village in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer on Tuesday, said officials, adding that all were saved and there were no casualties or injuries.

According to the officials, the bus was travelling through the area to pick up students from nearby rural areas when smoke suddenly began billowing from the engine compartment. Within seconds, flames erupted, triggering panic among the children and staff.

The driver immediately pulled the bus over to the roadside and, along with the bus staff, evacuated all 25 children to safety.

Their prompt action helped avert what could have been a major tragedy. The fire spread rapidly, and within minutes the entire bus was engulfed in flames and reduced to a charred wreck.

The bus was reportedly approaching Dhauva village when smoke was first noticed coming from the engine area. As soon as the fire was detected, the driver stopped the vehicle and ensured that every child was safely evacuated. Just minutes after the children were moved away from the bus, the flames engulfed the entire vehicle. Families and local residents breathed a sigh of relief after learning that all the children had escaped unharmed.

Villagers immediately informed the local administration and fire department about the incident. Fire tenders from the Jaisalmer Municipal Council reached the spot, and firefighters began efforts to bring the blaze under control.

After sustained efforts, the fire was extinguished. However, by then, the bus had been completely gutted.

A short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical system is suspected to be the initial cause of the fire.

The exact cause is yet to be confirmed. Police and the relevant departments are investigating the incident. Fortunately, no children or staff members sustained physical injuries.

The incident has once again raised concerns about fire safety equipment, vehicle maintenance and mandatory fitness inspections for school buses.

Parents have called for stricter mechanical and electrical inspections of school vehicles in the district to help prevent similar incidents in the future.