Operation Sohan: High alert in Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar as hunt for third terrorist continues
Synopsis
A four-day manhunt in Jammu and Kashmir's Majalta forests has placed five districts on high alert after two Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were eliminated in the Operation Sohan encounter on 17 September. With a third suspect — believed wounded — still at large, and forensic examination of recovered devices now probing local support networks, this operation is as much about dismantling an infiltration route as it is about the immediate pursuit.
Key Takeaways
Operation Sohan launched on 16 September in the forests of Bartal , Sohan , and Khubban in Jammu and Kashmir .
Two Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were eliminated on 17 September ; a third, believed injured, remains at large.
High alert declared across Kathua , Samba , Udhampur , Doda , and Kishtwar on 20 September .
Forces are using sniffer dogs , drones , and thermal surveillance helicopters to track the fugitive.
A suspected over-ground worker has been detained; devices recovered from slain militants sent for forensic examination .
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma praised the White Knight Corps for its coordinated action.
Operation Sohan entered its fourth day on Sunday, 20 September 2026, as security forces placed Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar districts on high alert, with cordon-and-search operations expanding deep into the Majalta forests. The operation follows an encounter on 17 September in which two Pakistani terrorists affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed were eliminated — and concerns grow that a third militant, believed to have been wounded in the firefight, remains at large in the dense forest terrain.
How Operation Sohan Began
The operation was launched on the night of 16 September in the dense forests of Bartal, Sohan, and Khubban, after intelligence inputs suggested militant movement along a known infiltration corridor. On the morning of 17 September, troops made contact with the group, neutralising two Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives. The third suspect is believed to have sustained injuries during the exchange but evaded capture, triggering the ongoing search.
According to security sources, the area is strategically significant — it sits along an old infiltration route running from the Kathua-Samba border through Majalta, Basantgarh, and Ramnagar towards Doda, Bhaderwah, and Kishtwar, and further into south Kashmir. This route has historically been used by militant groups to move personnel and logistics deeper into the valley.
Forces Deployed and Surveillance Methods
The Army's White Knight Corps, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are jointly conducting cordon-and-search operations across the affected districts. Security forces are deploying sniffer dogs, drones, and helicopters equipped with thermal surveillance systems to track the suspected injured militant through difficult forested terrain.
Mobile phones and other equipment recovered from the two slain terrorists have reportedly been sent for forensic examination to identify possible local contacts and support networks. Forensic teams are separately analysing blood marks and other traces found along the suspected escape route of the injured operative.
Detention, Hideouts, and Road Checks
A suspected over-ground worker has reportedly been detained and questioned on allegations of providing logistical support and shelter to the militant group. Based on inputs gathered during interrogation, searches are reportedly under way at additional suspected hideouts in the region.
Security checks have been intensified on major arterial routes including the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, as well as in areas around Majalta, Ramnagar, Basantgarh, Billawar, and Ramkot. Joint checkpoints have been established at forest and border areas across Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar.
Army Commander's Remarks
Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma reportedly praised the White Knight Corps for its conduct during Operation Sohan, highlighting the coordination among the Army, J&K Police, and the CRPF as a model for joint counter-insurgency operations in the region.
What Comes Next
Security forces are maintaining heightened readiness as the search enters its fourth day. The operation's outcome will be closely watched — not just for the immediate neutralisation of the suspected third militant, but for what forensic evidence gathered from recovered devices and detained suspects reveals about the broader support network sustaining infiltration along this route.
Point of View
Despite thermal drones and helicopter surveillance, underscores the intelligence and terrain challenge that security forces face in Majalta's dense forest belt. The forensic examination of recovered devices is arguably more consequential than the manhunt itself: if it surfaces local support networks, it could reshape how the Army and J&K Police approach over-ground worker detection across the Jammu division.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Sohan in Jammu and Kashmir?
Operation Sohan is a counter-terrorism search operation launched on the night of 16 September 2026 in the dense forests of Bartal, Sohan, and Khubban in Jammu and Kashmir's Majalta area. On 17 September, security forces eliminated two Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists in an encounter; a third militant, believed wounded, remains at large.
Which districts are on high alert due to Operation Sohan?
Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar districts in the Jammu region were placed on high alert on 20 September 2026 as the operation expanded. Joint checkpoints have been established at forest and border areas across all five districts.
Which security forces are involved in Operation Sohan?
The Army's White Knight Corps, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are jointly conducting the operation. Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma has reportedly commended their coordination.
Why is the Majalta forest area strategically significant?
According to security sources, the Majalta area sits along an old infiltration route running from the Kathua-Samba border through Basantgarh and Ramnagar towards Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, and further into south Kashmir. This corridor has historically been used by militant groups to move personnel deeper into the valley.
What evidence has been recovered during Operation Sohan?
Mobile phones and other equipment recovered from the two slain terrorists have been sent for forensic examination to probe possible local contacts and support networks. Forensic teams are also analysing blood marks along the suspected escape route of the injured militant, and a suspected over-ground worker has been detained for questioning.
