Rajouri search operation launched after CCTV spots two suspected terrorists
Synopsis
CCTV footage of two suspected terrorists crossing a road in Rajouri late Sunday night has triggered a major joint security operation across forested villages in Thanamandi — the latest escalation in Operation Sheruwali, a months-long anti-terror campaign targeting infiltration routes near the Line of Control that has reshaped the security calculus in one of J&K's most volatile districts.
Key Takeaways
Joint forces including the SOG , CRPF , and Army launched a search operation in Thanamandi, Rajouri on Tuesday, 15 July 2025 .
CCTV footage purportedly shows two suspected terrorists crossing a road late Sunday night , prompting the operation.
Search parties have fanned out across Bhanghai , Hasplote , Karyote , and Kopra Top ; no contact with suspects so far.
The operation is part of Operation Sheruwali , launched in May 2026 , targeting hideouts in the Manjakote and Sunderbani sectors.
Rajouri has seen recurring militant violence, including the Dhangri village attack on 1 January 2023 that killed four civilians.
Joint security forces launched a large-scale search operation in the Thanamandi area of Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, after local villagers reported sighting two suspected terrorists and CCTV footage purportedly captured their movement. The operation involves the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Army, working in a coordinated deployment across several villages and adjoining forest zones.
What Triggered the Operation
The suspected terrorists were reportedly caught on CCTV crossing a road late on Sunday night, according to officials. Acting on that footage, search parties fanned out across the villages of Bhanghai, Hasplote, Karyote, Kopra Top, and surrounding forested areas to trace the two individuals. As of the latest update, officials confirmed there has been no contact — meaning no exchange of gunfire — with the suspected terrorists.
Link to Operation Sheruwali
The current search is part of a broader anti-terror campaign codenamed Operation Sheruwali, which was launched in May 2026 and targets suspected terrorist hideouts and infiltration routes across the dense forest regions of the Manjakote and Sunderbani sectors. The operation reflects a sustained security push to neutralise what officials describe as a structural shift in terrorism in the region, with heavily armed foreign terrorists reportedly using Rajouri's mountainous terrain as both a transit corridor and a stronghold.
Rajouri's History of Militancy
Rajouri's proximity to the Line of Control (LoC) has long made it a flashpoint. The district experienced its most intense phase of militancy in the late 1990s and early 2000s, marked by targeted attacks on minority communities designed to displace local populations. Among the most documented incidents were the 1997 massacre of eight villagers and the 1999 Baliyara village attack, in which seven civilians attending a marriage procession were gunned down.
After years of relative calm, violence resurfaced on 1 January 2023, when militants targeted civilians in Dhangri village, killing four people and injuring others. A deadly IED blast followed the very next day, signalling what security analysts have since described as a renewed infiltration push through the region's difficult terrain.
Security Posture and What Comes Next
The current operation underscores the ongoing challenge of securing Rajouri's forested highlands, which offer natural cover to infiltrators crossing the LoC. Security forces are expected to maintain the cordon until the area is cleared. Officials have not yet confirmed the identity or affiliation of the two individuals seen on CCTV. The outcome of the search will likely determine whether Operation Sheruwali's scope is extended further into adjoining sectors.
Point of View
Suggesting that surveillance infrastructure in J&K's hinterland is maturing. Yet the absence of contact so far also highlights the enduring tactical advantage that Rajouri's dense forests give to infiltrators over even coordinated multi-agency deployments. Operation Sheruwali's longevity — now stretching past two months — is itself a signal that the security establishment does not regard this as a short-term threat.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did security forces launch a search operation in Rajouri's Thanamandi area?
Security forces launched the operation after local villagers reported seeing two suspected terrorists and CCTV footage purportedly captured the individuals crossing a road late Sunday night. The SOG, CRPF, and Army jointly deployed search parties across multiple villages and forested areas to trace the suspects.
What is Operation Sheruwali?
Operation Sheruwali is a prolonged anti-terror campaign launched in May 2026, targeting suspected terrorist hideouts and infiltration routes across the dense forest regions of the Manjakote and Sunderbani sectors in Rajouri district. The current Thanamandi search is part of this broader operation.
Has there been any encounter or gunfire during the Rajouri search operation?
No. As of the latest update, officials confirmed there has been 'no contact' — meaning no exchange of gunfire — between security forces and the suspected terrorists. The search operation remains ongoing.
What is the history of militancy in Rajouri district?
Rajouri has experienced recurring militant violence linked to its proximity to the Line of Control. Major incidents include the 1997 massacre of eight villagers, the 1999 Baliyara attack killing seven civilians, and the 1 January 2023 Dhangri village attack that killed four people and was followed by an IED blast the next day.
Which areas are being covered in the Thanamandi search operation?
Search parties have been deployed across the villages of Bhanghai, Hasplote, Karyote, Kopra Top, and adjoining forested areas in the Thanamandi region of Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir.
