The army chief, General Manoj Pande, visited the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday and exhorted commanders to conduct operations in the "most professional manner", the directive coming amid allegations of three civilians being killed in army custody.

Sources in Delhi said the internal probe ordered by the army would be completed swiftly, with stern action taken for any lapses found.

"The high-level internal probe ordered into the purported torture videos and alleged custodial deaths of three civilians will be completed swiftly, considering the incident is under intense media glare," an official posted at the army headquarters said.

General Pande arrived in Jammu in the morning and left for the Rajouri-Poonch sector, where he reviewed the security situation and the operational preparedness of the force.

“Manoj Pande #COAS visited #Poonch sector and was given an update on the prevalent security situation. #COAS interacted with commanders on ground, exhorted them to conduct the operations in the most professional manner and remain resolute & steadfast against all challenges,” the Indian army posted on X.

An operation has been under way since Thursday in Poonch to track down militants who last week killed four soldiers in an ambush.

Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, GOC-in-C, Northern Command; Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain, GOC of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps; and senior civil administration and police officials are camping in Rajouri and Poonch districts to supervise the anti-militant operation and help maintain law and order.

Mobile and Internet services remained suspended in the twin districts for the third straight day.