Renewed Gunfight in Kishtwar: Security Forces Tighten Noose Around Terrorists After Fresh Contact
Security forces have once again locked horns with terrorists in the rugged upper reaches of Chhatru, Jammu and Kashmir, days after a fierce encounter claimed the life of a Special Forces commando.
The latest exchange of fire took place on Thursday morning, signaling that the hunt for the militants has entered a critical phase.
According to security sources, joint teams of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Armed Police Forces re-established contact with the terrorists in the forested Singpora area during an intensive combing operation that has been underway for nearly five days.
Terrorists Escape, Massive Search Intensifies
Although a brief firing took place, the terrorists managed to slip away into the dense forests, using the difficult terrain to their advantage.
Security agencies have since intensified search operations, deploying sniffer dogs, drones, and helicopter-based aerial surveillance to track their movement and prevent their escape from the area.
The operation is being carried out in challenging conditions at altitudes close to 12,000 feet, where thick forests and steep slopes make ground operations extremely demanding. Forces remain on high alert as search teams continue to narrow the cordon.
Sacrifice of a Special Forces Soldier
The renewed contact comes days after a deadly ambush on Sunday in the same forest belt, when terrorists opened fire on joint search parties, injuring eight security personnel.
One of them, Gajendra Singh, a Havildar from the Special Forces, later succumbed to his injuries, adding to the toll of sacrifices made in the ongoing counter-terror operation.
Operation Trashi-I and Intelligence Inputs
The joint operation, code-named Operation Trashi-I, was launched following specific intelligence inputs indicating the presence of terrorists in the Chhatru region.
Since then, multiple search teams have been deployed to comb the forests and high-altitude hideouts systematically.
Pakistani Terror Groups Active for Years
Security agencies believe that two groups of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, led by Saifullah and Adil—both Pakistani nationals—have been operating in the Chhatru belt for nearly two years.
The area’s remoteness and forest cover are suspected to have helped them evade detection for long periods.
Underground Hideout Busted
Earlier this week, on Monday, search teams uncovered a well-fortified underground hideout believed to have been used by the terrorists.
The bunker was carefully constructed and large enough to shelter four militants at a time.
It was stocked with food supplies and daily-use essentials, including an LPG cylinder, stove, and utensils—enough to sustain them for several months without external support.
Security Forces Remain Determined
Officials said the discovery of the hideout has provided crucial leads, reinforcing the belief that the terrorists were well-prepared to stay entrenched in the region for extended periods.
Security forces remain determined to neutralise the militants and dismantle the terror infrastructure operating in the Kishtwar forests.
With fresh contact established and surveillance tightened from air and ground, the operation is expected to continue until the area is fully sanitised.
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