Paratrooper succumbs to injuries as search ops continue in Jammu & Kashmir's Kishtwar

Srinagar: A Special Forces paratrooper critically wounded in a fierce encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Sunday succumbed to his injuries, as security forces pressed on with a large-scale search operation in the upper reaches of the region for a second consecutive day on Monday.

The soldier, identified as Havildar Gajendra Singh, was among eight personnel injured during a counter-terror operation launched on Sunday in the Sonnar village area near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt. Officials said the troops came under a sudden grenade attack by terrorists hiding in dense forest cover, resulting in splinter injuries to several soldiers.

Havildar Singh, who belonged to the Special Forces, passed away during treatment at a military hospital in the intervening night of January 18 and 19, officials said.

The Army paid tribute to him, describing his death as a supreme sacrifice made while “gallantly executing” a counter-terrorism mission in the Singpora area during the ongoing operation, codenamed TRASHI-I. Senior officers and personnel of the White Knight Corps expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and honoured his courage and devotion to duty.

The operation, temporarily halted late Sunday night due to darkness and difficult terrain, was resumed at first light on Monday. The area is characterised by thick vegetation, steep slopes and limited visibility, posing significant challenges to movement and surveillance, officials said.

Multiple teams of the Army, J&K Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed to comb the forests and high-altitude areas, reports said. Drones and sniffer dogs are being used to track the movement of terrorists, while a tight security cordon has been established to prevent any escape.

According to officials, two to three terrorists, suspected to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), are believed to be trapped in the area. The operation was continuing till the filing of this report.

Security agencies have reported the presence of foreign terrorists in the upper reaches of Kishtwar and Doda districts, as well as in parts of Udhampur and Kathua. Several brief contacts have been established with terrorists in recent weeks, indicating increased militant activity in the Jammu region.

This is the third encounter involving security forces and terrorists in the region this year. Earlier this month, encounters took place in the Kahog and Najote forest areas of Kathua’s Billawar belt on January 7 and 13. In December last year, a police jawan was killed in an encounter in Udhampur’s Majalta area, from where terrorists managed to flee under the cover of darkness and dense foliage.