Jammu, Jan 19 (NationPress) An Army soldier who suffered injuries during a confrontation with terrorists in Sonnar village of the Chatroo area in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir tragically succumbed to his injuries on Monday.

During the initial exchange of gunfire in this anti-terror operation named 'TRASHI-I', eight soldiers were injured.

The White Knight Corps, based in Nagrota, expressed their condolences on X, stating, "The #GOC, White Knight Corps, along with all ranks, pays a heartfelt tribute to Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces, who made the ultimate sacrifice while bravely carrying out a counter-terrorism operation in the Singpura area during the ongoing Operation TRASHI-I on the night of January 19, 2026."

They further added, "We celebrate his unwavering bravery, valor, and dedication to duty, and we stand in solidarity with his grieving family during this profoundly sorrowful time."

The anti-terror operation in the Chatroo region resumed on Monday morning.

Eight soldiers were injured during the initial Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) as the terrorists launched grenades and fired upon the joint forces.

Three of the injured soldiers were airlifted for urgent medical care, while five received treatment at a local healthcare facility. Reports indicate that most of the injured soldiers suffered splinter injuries due to the grenade blasts.

Following a night of inactivity, the joint forces resumed their search efforts to locate the terrorists believed to be concealed in the higher elevations.

The operation had been halted late the previous evening due to challenging terrain characterized by dense vegetation and steep slopes, which hampered visibility and movement.

Multiple teams comprising the Army, police, and paramilitary forces, equipped with drones and sniffer dogs, are meticulously searching the area while maintaining a strict security perimeter to prevent the terrorists from escaping, according to officials.

A group of two to three terrorists, allegedly linked to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), are believed to be trapped in the vicinity.

The operation resumed at dawn today, with no new contacts reported with the terrorists until noon.

On Sunday, the White Knight Corps stated on X that the joint forces had engaged with the terrorists in the general area of Sonnar, northeast of Chatroo, during a search operation that was part of ongoing collaborative counter-terror exercises alongside the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

“Operations are ongoing with additional forces deployed to strengthen the cordon, backed by close coordination with civil administration and security agencies,” the Army remarked, commending the troops for their exceptional professionalism and determination in responding to hostile fire under difficult conditions.

This encounter marks the third clash between security forces and terrorists in the Jammu region this year.

Previous encounters took place in the Kahog and Najote forests in the Billawar area of Kathua district on January 7 and 13, respectively.

On December 15 of last year, a police officer was killed in a confrontation with terrorists in Soan village in the Majalta area of Udhampur district. The terrorists managed to flee, taking advantage of the dense cover and darkness.

These encounters were part of a significant counter-terror operation launched in the forest regions of the Jammu area in December of last year to flush out nearly three dozen terrorists believed to be hiding.

Operations have been intensified ahead of Republic Day to ensure peaceful celebrations, amid intelligence reports of desperate attempts by Pakistan-based handlers to infiltrate more terrorists into the region, officials noted.

The hilly districts of the Jammu division, including Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda, Udhampur, and Reasi, have been under close scrutiny by security forces following intelligence reports indicating the movement of Pakistani terrorists in the densely forested mountainous areas of these districts.

Joint forces have engaged in sustained encounters with terrorists in Kathua, Udhampur, and other districts, but the terrorists have consistently managed to escape from surrounded areas, using the cover of dense forests and nighttime darkness.

During a high-level security review meeting regarding Jammu and Kashmir on January 8, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, discussions were held regarding the presence of terrorists in the hilly districts of the Jammu division.

HM Shah issued clear directives for coordinated, sustained, and intelligence-backed operations to eliminate terrorists from mountainous regions and ensure zero infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir.

The LoC spans 740 km, while the IB covers 240 km in Jammu and Kashmir. The Army is responsible for guarding the LoC, whereas the Border Security Force (BSF) secures the IB.

The LoC is located in the Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora districts of the Valley and partially in the Jammu district. The IB is situated in the Samba, Kathua, and Jammu districts of the Jammu division.