SRINAGAR: Army authorities on March 11, ruled out any search and cordon operation in Chrar-e-Sharief town and said there was no question. of storming the holy shrine of Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani situated in the town.
The security forces scaled a number of villages around the town last week following information that a large number of militants, including a sizeable number of mercenaries, have taken shelter in the town.
A security man and two persons were killed in an encounter between the hiding militants and the security forces on March 6, following which the security forces launched a combing operation in the villages around Chrare-Sharief.
Lt Gen. J.S. Dhillon, the new general officer commanding 15th corps, said the Army was conducting rou tine search operations in the villages around Chrar-e-Sharief, which are at a distance of four to five kms from the main town.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 17, 1995
