Representative image for terrorism.
Credit: iStock Photo
Srinagar: A terrorist, believed to be of Pakistani origin, was killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces in the hilly Chhatru forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Friday.
“Based on specific intelligence, a joint search and destroy operation along with Jammu and Kashmir police was launched on April 9 in Chhatru forest in Kishtwar. Contact was established late evening on the same day. The terrorists were effectively engaged and firefight ensued. One terrorist has thus far been neutralised," the Army's Jammu-based White Knight Corps said in a post on X.
"Despite hostile terrain and adverse weather, relentless operations by our brave soldiers continues," they added and tagged two images showing soldiers walking on a narrow path through a snow-covered dense forest.
In recent months, Jammu has witnessed a surge in terrorist activities, particularly in the districts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch. These areas, once considered relatively peaceful, have now become focal points for terror operations, with increased infiltration from across the border and frequent encounters between security forces and terrorists.
The escalation began in April 2024, when a militant attack in Reasi district targeted a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori cave to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra.
The assailants opened fire, causing the bus to plunge into a gorge, resulting in nine fatalities and 41 injuries. The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility but later denied involvement, while the Police attributed the attack to Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit.
According to the army, the International Border in Kathua district has become a significant infiltration route for Pakistan-based terrorists, allowing them to access the higher reaches of the Kailash tri-junction, which connects Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar districts, and ultimately leads into Kashmir.
In response to these challenges, security forces have intensified operations, including joint cordon and search efforts involving the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Central Reserve Police Force. Despite these efforts, the difficult terrain and dense forests of regions like Kishtwar, Doda and Reasi continue to pose significant challenges in neutralizing the terror threat.