The militants involved in Thursday’s ambush that killed four soldiers and injured three more remained at large more than 24 hours after the deadly attack even as security forces expanded the operation to huge swathes of the Pir Panjal region on Friday.

Hundreds of soldiers were rushed to the area on Friday to hunt down the militants, who seem to have melted into the rugged mountain terrain, taking advantage of thick vegetation. Several locals were picked up for questioning to know about the militants’ possible whereabouts.

During the day, top army and police officers, including 16 Corps chief Lt Gen. Sandeep and Jammu and Kashmir police chief R.R. Swain, visited the encounter site to monitor the operation. An NIA team also reached the spot to investigate the incident.

A shadowy militant group, the People’s Anti Front, believed to be a Jaish-e-Mohammad proxy, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group is believed to have released pictures of the encounter site, showing damaged army vehicles and the body of a soldier lying close by. A militant, not visible in the picture, flexes a sophisticated US-made M4 carbine. The rifle uses steel bullets that can pierce bullet-proof vests.

The army said on Thursday night that two army vehicles that came under attack in Poonch district were part of reinforcements that were being rushed to help soldiers who were part of an anti-militancy operation in nearby Rajouri district.

Police sources said the militants had anticipated the arrival of more troops and laid an ambush some kilometres away. Sources identified the slain soldiers as Naik Birendra Singh, Naik Karan Kumar, Rifleman Chandan Kumar and Rifleman Gautam Kumar.

A source said three to four militants had positioned themselves atop a hill at Dhatyar Morh, between Dera Ki Gali and Bafliaz and close to a blind curve, to take the soldiers by surprise.

The social media handle WLVN Analysis, which is followed by the Northern Army Command, claimed on Friday morning that the bodies of two soldiers had been found mutilated. The claim was widely reported and by evening, the army had not contested the reports.

The last mutilation of soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir was reported in 2017 when Pakistan’s Border Action Team, believed to comprise militants assisted by Pakistani soldiers, killed a junior commissioned officer and a BSF head constable on the LoC.

Muslim-majority Pir Panjal region, which includes Poonch and Rajouri districts, has seen a revival of militancy after the 2019 scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.

Thousands of troops were shifted out of the region to Ladakh following the 2020 standoff with China, which has created wide gaps helping militants carry out attacks with relative ease.

The year 2023 has witnessed an unprecedented surge in militant activities, with some reports suggesting that around 30, mostly Pakistani, militants were active in the area.

Police figures reveal militancy-related incidents in the region, including adjoining Reasi, had left 58 people dead, including 23 soldiers, seven Hindu civilians and 28 militants.