Operation Sheruwali enters 23rd day in Rajouri's Dorimal forests
Synopsis
Operation Sheruwali has now stretched to 23 days in Rajouri's Dorimal forests — one of the longest active counter-terror missions in J&K in recent years. With one soldier already dead, heavy firing recorded on 28 May, and foreign mercenaries reportedly among the targets, this operation is a stark indicator of how quickly militancy has re-taken root in a region that was declared largely free of it just six years ago.
Key Takeaways
Operation Sheruwali entered its 23rd day on 14 June in the Dorimal forests of Rajouri district , J&K.
Joint forces — Indian Army , J&K Police , and CRPF — are conducting cordon-and-search missions in steep, densely forested terrain.
An Indian Army soldier died on 7 June after slipping from a rock during the operation.
Heavy firing and shelling erupted on 28 May as forces tightened the cordon around suspected militant positions.
Rajouri and Poonch had been largely militancy-free before 2019 but have since re-emerged as a hotbed of armed activity along the LoC .
Operation Sheruwali, the large-scale counter-terrorism mission in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, entered its 23rd consecutive day on Sunday, 14 June, making it one of the longest sustained anti-terror operations in the region in recent memory. Joint security forces continue to comb the dense Dorimal forests of the Gambir Mughlan area in a bid to locate and neutralise armed militants believed to be holed up in the rugged terrain.
Operation on the Ground
The multi-agency operation involves the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), all operating in tandem across extremely challenging terrain. Steep slopes, rocky outcrops, and thick forest cover have significantly complicated search efforts, according to officials. Security personnel are conducting extensive cordon-and-search missions, aerial surveillance, and area-domination exercises to intercept any suspicious movement within the forest belt.
The scale of deployment has been described as massive, with additional reinforcements and logistical support rushed to the encounter zone to maintain what officials called a 'strong and impenetrable cordon' — aimed at preventing militants from slipping through the dense vegetation.
Casualties and Key Developments
The operation has not been without cost. On 7 June, an Indian Army soldier lost his life after accidentally slipping from a rock while navigating the treacherous mountainous terrain during the mission. According to sources, the jawan sustained critical injuries after losing his footing on a rocky slope and, despite immediate evacuation for medical treatment, succumbed to his wounds.
Earlier, on 28 May, heavy firing and shelling erupted in the Dorimal forest area as the operation reached what officials described as a critical stage. Security forces tightened their cordon at that point, signalling a significant escalation in contact with suspected militants.
Why Rajouri Has Become a Flashpoint
The twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region share a long and porous Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Before 2019, the area had largely been declared militancy-free. However, in the years since, heavily armed groups — reportedly including foreign mercenaries — have re-established a foothold by exploiting the dense forests, natural caves, and rugged geography as safe hideouts.
Security forces in the region have faced repeated ambushes and coordinated attacks in recent years, prompting a series of large-scale area-domination and cordon-and-search operations. Operation Sheruwali, launched in late May 2025, is the latest and most prolonged of these efforts.
What Comes Next
Officials have given no indication of a timeline for concluding the operation, underscoring the complexity of counter-terrorism missions in forested, high-altitude terrain. The determination of security forces to maintain the cordon despite difficult conditions and casualties signals that the operation is expected to continue until the threat is neutralised. The situation in Rajouri will remain closely watched as a barometer of security stability along the Jammu frontier.
Point of View
Reportedly including foreign mercenaries, suggests that the security vacuum created by the terrain was never fully addressed. The death of a soldier to an accidental fall, rather than direct contact, also underlines how the environment itself is an adversary. The broader question mainstream coverage is not asking: if heavily armed groups can sustain themselves in Dorimal for weeks despite a 'massive' cordon, what does that say about infiltration routes along the LoC that remain porous?
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Sheruwali in Rajouri?
Operation Sheruwali is a large-scale counter-terrorism combing mission launched in late May 2025 in the dense Dorimal forests of Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir. It involves the Indian Army, J&K Police, and CRPF and aims to locate and neutralise armed militants, reportedly including foreign mercenaries, hiding in the rugged terrain.
How long has Operation Sheruwali been ongoing?
The operation entered its 23rd consecutive day on 14 June 2025, making it one of the longest sustained active counter-terror operations in the Jammu region in recent years.
Has there been any casualty in Operation Sheruwali?
Yes. An Indian Army soldier died on 7 June after accidentally slipping from a rock while moving through the mountainous terrain. He sustained critical injuries and succumbed despite immediate medical evacuation.
Why are Rajouri and Poonch considered sensitive areas?
Rajouri and Poonch share a long, porous Line of Control with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and had been largely declared militancy-free before 2019. Since then, heavily armed groups have re-established a presence using dense forests and natural caves as hideouts, leading to repeated ambushes on security forces.
What challenges are troops facing in the Dorimal forests?
Troops are operating in extremely difficult conditions — steep slopes, rocky mountains, and thick vegetation limit visibility and movement. The terrain has been described by officials as one of the most challenging environments for counter-terrorism operations in the region.
