Ongoing Operation Against Terrorists in Kathua, J&K

Jammu, March 24 (NationPress) The operation targeting holed up terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district persisted on Monday. However, there was no gunfire exchanged between the security forces and the terrorists during the night.

The DGP, Nalin Prabhat, accompanied by Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP (Jammu), arrived at the operation site on Sunday evening to oversee actions against the terrorists who have taken refuge in Sanyal village of Hiranagar tehsil, located just 4 Km from the International Border (IB) with Pakistan.

Officials stated, “There has been no exchange of fire between the trapped terrorists and security personnel since 7 p.m. last night. The entire forested region, where it is estimated that 3 to 5 terrorists are concealed, has been cordoned off.”

On Sunday, a 7-year-old girl sustained injuries during the shooting encounters between security forces and terrorists.

She was promptly transported to the hospital, where doctors confirmed her condition to be stable.

According to reports, a local woman, Anita Devi, along with her husband Ganesh Kumar, encountered the terrorists while gathering firewood in the forested area.

This information led the joint forces to initiate a CASO (Cordon and Search Operation) in Sanyal village near the IB in the Hiranagar district of Kathua.

As the joint forces, which include the Army, The Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), closed in on the hiding terrorists, they came under fire, sparking an encounter,” officials reported.

The IB separating India and Pakistan runs through this district, and there have been previous attempts by terrorists to infiltrate into Indian territory across the border.

Recently, in Kathua, three civilians -- Darshan Singh, 40, Yogesh Singh, 32, and Varun Singh, 14 -- went missing on March 5 while returning from a wedding in Marhoon village.

Their remains were discovered on March 8 near a waterfall at the edge of a cliff in a wooded area following an extensive search operation involving the Army, police, drones, and sniffer dogs.

“The shocking murder of three relatives by terrorists in the Bani area of Kathua is deeply troubling and a matter of significant concern,” remarked Union Minister Jitendra Singh in a post on X.

Following this incident, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan visited Jammu on March 9, leading a high-level security meeting concerning the safety and peaceful conduct of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra beginning on July 3, and the inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).

The Home Secretary emphasized the security situation in the Jammu division while providing comprehensive directions regarding the overall security landscape in J&K.

Terrorist activities, which were initially confined to Poonch and Rajouri districts, have now spread to other parts of Jammu, including regions that were previously considered relatively safe, such as the Chenab Valley, which was once declared militancy-free, as well as Udhampur and Kathua.

In the past, highly trained terrorists have been ambushing vehicles and employing grenades along with armor-piercing rounds and M4 assault rifles.

Sources indicate that the usage of advanced weaponry by terrorists signifies a notable rise in the threat level. Analysts assert that over the past few years, the Pir Panjal region, which separates the Kashmir Valley from Jammu, has experienced an increase in militancy, as anti-terror operations in Kashmir have driven terrorists into the mountains, where they lie in wait for opportune moments to launch attacks against security personnel.