What Happened to Three Army Soldiers Injured in Kishtwar Encounter?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Three soldiers injured in Kishtwar encounter.
- Joint forces initiated a Cordon and Search Operation.
- Reinforcements have been deployed to the area.
- Ongoing operations highlight the threat of terrorism.
- Intelligence-driven strategies are crucial for security.
Jammu, Jan 18 (NationPress) On Sunday, three army soldiers sustained injuries during an ongoing encounter involving joint forces and terrorists in the Sonar region of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to officials, the clash erupted after the joint forces initiated a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the Sonar area of Chatroo following credible intelligence regarding the presence of militants.
“As the troops advanced, they came under fire, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. During this encounter, three soldiers were injured. They were promptly airlifted to a medical facility for advanced treatment,” an official stated.
“The joint forces have tightened the cordon in the area, with intermittent firing between the forces and the terrorists persisting until the latest reports. Additional reinforcements have been deployed to bolster the operation,” the official added.
The Army’s Nagrota based White Knight Corps earlier reported on X, “Operation Trashi - I. Contact was established with terrorists in the Son Nar area, northeast of Chhatru, during a deliberate search operation as part of ongoing joint counter-terrorism initiatives alongside @JmuKmrPolice.
“Troops exhibited remarkable professionalism and determination while responding to hostile fire under challenging terrain and conditions. Operations continue with additional forces joining to reinforce the cordon, in close coordination with civil administration and security agencies.”
Hilly districts within the Jammu division—including Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda, Udhampur, and Reasi—have been under scrutiny by security forces due to intelligence reports about Pakistani terrorists navigating the densely forested mountainous terrain.
Joint forces have previously engaged with terrorists in Kathua, Udhampur, and other districts during protracted encounters, but the militants have managed to escape from the cordoned areas, utilizing the cover of dense forests and darkness at night.
In a high-level security review meeting concerning Jammu and Kashmir on January 8, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, the presence of terrorists in these hilly districts was thoroughly discussed.
HM Amit Shah emphasized that coordinated, sustained, and intelligence-driven operations must be executed to eliminate terrorists from these mountainous regions and to ensure zero infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir.
The LoC spans 740 km and the IB stretches 240 km in Jammu and Kashmir. The army secures the LoC, while the Border Security Force (BSF) oversees the IB.
The LoC is located in the Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora districts of the Valley and partly in the Jammu district. The IB is found in the Samba, Kathua, and Jammu districts of the Jammu division.