The area was illuminated with flares and put under surveillance through drones with reinforcements mobilised to lay a tight cordon. A search operation was launched at first light, army sources said.

Mufti urges Home Minister Amit Shah to set aside his “ego” for the nation’s benefit and facilitate a meeting between representatives from both sides of the Line of Control (LoC), similar to efforts made by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

“Today, once again, the terrorist country of Pakistan is making efforts to disturb peace in the Jammu division. It wants to stop its progress," Manoj Sinha said at the Raj Bhawan in Jammu.