Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar were able to re-establish contact with three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists holed up in Dolgam area early Saturday, officials said.
Using intelligence inputs from various sources, the Army said it was able to plan a coordinated operation and execute it on the ground, adding that a cordon has been established. This is the fourth time in the past fortnight that contact has been established with the terrorists in the area, the Army said.
“During the ongoing joint Operation Trashi-I, contact with terrorists was re-established in the early hours of January 31 in the general area of Dolgam by troops of the White Knight Corps, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF,” the White Knight Corps said on X.
Meanwhile, officials said mobile internet services have been temporarily suspended within a six-kilometre radius covering Singhpora, Chingam, and Chatroo to prevent misuse by anti-national elements during the ongoing operation.
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma visited Kishtwar to review the counter-terrorism grid as the ongoing anti-terror operation to neutralise a group of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists holed up in the district continues.
“Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, Army Commander, Northern Command, visited Kishtwar today to review the counter-terrorism grid and operational preparedness,” Northern Command Headquarters said on X.
Also Read: Counter-terror ops intensify in Kishtwar; internet suspended
The visit of the Army commander to the mountainous district comes after a high-level security review of the emerging security dynamics in the Jammu region, with a focus on strengthening the counter-terrorism grid on Thursday, officials said.
While interacting with ground commanders and troops, the Army commander commended them for their unwavering resolve in the ongoing efforts.
The ongoing anti-terror operation in the snowbound Chatroo belt to track down and neutralise a group of three holed-up Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists was launched on January 18, and led to a fierce gunbattle in the Sonnar forest near Mandral-Singhpora, resulting in the killing of a paratrooper and injuries to seven soldiers.
Although the terrorists managed to escape by taking advantage of thick vegetation and challenging terrain, security forces continued their hunt despite more than 2 ft of snowfall.
Two more encounters took place between the Army and the terrorists at Mali Dana Top on January 22 and Janseer-Kandiwar on January 25, but the terrorists once again slipped deep into the forest area.
Kishtwar has seen six encounters in the past seven months as forces continue their crackdown on Pakistan-based terrorists operating in the region, which shares borders with Doda and Udhampur districts.
Follow us
