JAMMU JAN 20 : A large-scale counter-terrorism operation in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district entered its third day on Tuesday, with security forces detaining several individuals for questioning, officials said.
The operation was launched Sunday in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt following intelligence inputs. Initial contact with terrorists resulted in a gunfight that claimed the life of one paratrooper and left seven others injured, primarily from splinter wounds after militants launched a sudden grenade attack before retreating into dense forest areas.
Security forces discovered and dismantled a well-fortified terrorist hideout stocked with substantial winter supplies, including food items, blankets, and utensils—enough to sustain at least four persons through the harsh winter months at an altitude exceeding 12,000 feet.
Senior officers are personally overseeing the operation. Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone) Bhim Sen Tuti and Inspector General of CRPF (Jammu) R Gopala Krishna Rao have reached the encounter site and are camping there alongside army officers to supervise ongoing efforts.
A wreath-laying ceremony was held Tuesday morning at Satwari, Jammu, to honor the fallen Special Force Commando, Havildar Gajendra Singh. Brig Yudhvir Singh Sekhon, Officiating Chief of Staff of White Knight Corps, led the ceremony. The soldier’s mortal remains were subsequently dispatched to his hometown in Uttarakhand for final rites.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Jammu-Kathua-Samba range) Shiv Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Rakesh Minhas, and several officers from police, CRPF, and BSF.
Security forces have taken several individuals into custody for questioning regarding the terrorist hideout. Investigators are working to identify overground workers (OGWs) who allegedly helped procure and transport the large quantities of supplies to the remote location.
According to the army’s White Knight Corps, Operation Trashi-I continues with an expanded search perimeter. “The cordon has been further tightened with search operations expanded. Troops of the corps, along with Police and CRPF, remain deployed to dominate the area,” the army stated on X Monday.
Multiple teams from the army, police, and paramilitary forces are conducting intensive combing operations with support from drones and sniffer dogs. However, challenging terrain characterized by thick vegetation and steep slopes is hampering visibility and movement.
Officials believe two to three terrorists, allegedly affiliated with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), are trapped in the area. Security operations have been intensified across the Jammu region ahead of Republic Day celebrations, following intelligence reports of Pakistani handlers attempting to push more terrorists into Indian territory.
