Operation Sheruwali Day 6: Fresh assault targets trapped terrorists in Rajouri forests
Synopsis
Six days in, Operation Sheruwali in Rajouri's Dorimal-Gambhir Mughlan forests is entering its most critical phase. With two hardcore most-wanted Pakistani operatives — Hamza and Iliyas Fauzi — reportedly cornered, the GOC-in-C of Northern Command personally reviewing the operation signals just how high the stakes are. The blood trail, the helicopter cover, and the tightening cordon suggest a decisive confrontation is imminent.
Key Takeaways
Operation Sheruwali in Rajouri district, J&K entered its sixth day on Thursday, 29 May 2025 .
Three Pakistani terrorists , including most-wanted operatives Hamza and Iliyas Fauzi , are reportedly trapped in the Dorimal-Gambhir Mughlan forests .
Fresh firing and MGL assaults were launched Thursday; smoke plumes indicated targeted locations were struck.
GOC-in-C Northern Command, Lt General Pratik Sharma , personally reviewed the operation on Wednesday.
Joint forces comprising the Army , J&K Police , and CRPF are backed by helicopters, drones, and sniffer dogs .
The operation was initiated on Saturday following specific intelligence; a hideout was busted on Monday after a brief exchange of fire.
Operation Sheruwali, the ongoing anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, entered its sixth consecutive day on Thursday, 29 May 2025, as joint security forces launched a fresh assault on terrorist hideouts in the cordoned-off Dorimal-Gambhir Mughlan forests. According to officials, three Pakistani terrorists — including two identified hardcore operatives — are believed to be trapped within the sealed perimeter.
Fresh Assault and Tactical Pressure
Thursday's offensive came a day after General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Northern Command, Lt General Pratik Sharma, reviewed the operation on the ground. Officials said the renewed assault is designed to progressively narrow the cordon and eliminate the terrorists believed to be concealed in the dense forest belt.
Firing and Multiple Grenade Launcher (MGL) assaults were carried out during the day, with officials noting that 'plumes of smoke rising from the forested areas' indicated that targeted locations had been struck. The cordon has been further reinforced with the induction of additional troops.
Who Is Being Hunted
According to reports, three Pakistani nationals are trapped inside the cordoned zone. Two of them — identified as Hamza and Iliyas Fauzi — are described as hardcore, most-wanted terrorists. Security forces have been tracking the suspects using blood stains reportedly left behind by the fleeing militants since Monday.
On Monday, forces had busted a hideout following a brief exchange of fire, after the blood trail was detected, prompting a further tightening of the cordon.
Multi-Force Operation With Air and Ground Support
The joint operation involves the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The search teams are backed by helicopters, drones, and sniffer dogs, conducting extensive sweeps across the adjoining forest areas. Intensified vehicle checks on all roads leading to the Dorimal-Gambhir Mughlan belt have been maintained for the sixth straight day.
Additional security forces have been rushed to the area as the operation continues to scale up, reflecting the assessed threat level of the trapped operatives.
How the Operation Began
The operation was launched on Saturday after a joint team received specific intelligence about the movement of suspected terrorists in the Dorimal-Gambhir Mughlan belt. A Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was initiated, and contact was established with the terrorists shortly after, triggering a brief exchange of fire. The operation has been running continuously since, with forces maintaining a sustained presence in the heavily forested terrain.
This is the latest in a series of counter-terror operations in the Rajouri-Poonch belt, a region that has seen a notable uptick in militant activity in recent years. With the Northern Command chief personally reviewing the operation, the security establishment has signalled that eliminating these operatives remains a high-priority objective. All eyes are now on whether the tightened cordon will force a decisive encounter in the coming hours.
Point of View
And the pattern of Pakistani nationals being cornered in these forests points to a cross-border infiltration pipeline that has not been fully disrupted. Six days is a long time to sustain a cordon in dense forest terrain; the longer it holds without a definitive encounter, the more it tests both operational logistics and the credibility of intelligence inputs. The real question is not whether the forces will prevail, but whether the broader network that inserted these operatives will be addressed.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Sheruwali in Rajouri?
Operation Sheruwali is an ongoing anti-terror operation in the Dorimal-Gambhir Mughlan forest belt of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir. It was launched on Saturday after specific intelligence indicated the presence of Pakistani terrorists in the area, and has been running continuously for six days as of Thursday, 29 May 2025.
Who are the terrorists being targeted in the Rajouri operation?
According to officials, three Pakistani nationals are trapped in the cordoned zone. Two of them — identified as Hamza and Iliyas Fauzi — are described as hardcore, most-wanted terrorists. Security forces have been tracking their movement using blood stains reportedly left behind since Monday.
Which security forces are involved in Operation Sheruwali?
The operation is a joint effort involving the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The teams are supported by helicopters, drones, and sniffer dogs, and additional troops have been inducted to strengthen the cordon.
What happened on Day 6 of the Rajouri anti-terror operation?
On Thursday, joint forces launched fresh firing and MGL assaults on suspected terrorist hideouts in the Dorimal-Gambhir Mughlan forests. Officials reported plumes of smoke rising from targeted locations, indicating the strikes had connected. The cordon was further tightened with additional troops.
Why did the Northern Command chief visit the Rajouri operation site?
Lt General Pratik Sharma, GOC-in-C of Northern Command, reviewed the ongoing operation on Wednesday — a day before the sixth-day assault. Such a high-level review indicates the operation is being treated as a priority mission, given the reported presence of high-value Pakistani operatives in the area.
