Eight Army Personnel Injured in Prolonged Kishtwar Gunfight
Eight Army personnel sustained injuries on Sunday during an extended gunfight with terrorists in a remote forested area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district. The encounter erupted in the upper reaches of the district and lasted for several hours.
Operation Trashi-I Launched in Sonnar Area
Security forces initiated a search operation around noon in the general area of Sonnar, northeast of Chatroo. The Army's Jammu-based White Knight Corps named this operation Trashi-I. During the search, troops made contact with a group of terrorists, triggering the prolonged exchange of fire.
The White Knight Corps confirmed the operation through a post on social media platform X. They stated this search formed part of ongoing joint counter-terror operations conducted alongside Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Intense Exchange of Fire with Foreign Terrorists
Officials reported that one search team encountered two to three foreign terrorists during the operation. These terrorists are believed to have affiliations with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). The militants opened indiscriminate fire and hurled grenades in an attempt to break through the security cordon.
Army troops immediately retaliated against the hostile fire. Reinforcements from the Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and local police quickly rushed to the area to strengthen the cordon around the terrorists.
Injuries and Evacuation
Intermittent firing continued until approximately 5:40 pm. Eight soldiers suffered injuries during the confrontation, with most wounds resulting from grenade blast splinters. Medical teams evacuated all injured personnel to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The Army praised their troops for demonstrating exceptional professionalism while responding to hostile fire under difficult terrain and challenging conditions.
Massive Search Operation Continues
A massive search operation remains underway to track down and neutralize the terrorists. Security forces have deployed advanced surveillance equipment, including drones, along with sniffer dogs to accelerate the operation.
Additional forces have joined the operation to reinforce the cordon. Close coordination continues between security agencies and civil administration throughout the ongoing search.
Third Encounter in Jammu Region This Year
This confrontation marks the third encounter between security forces and terrorists in the Jammu region during 2024. Previous gunfights occurred in Kahog and Najote forests of Billawar area in Kathua district on January 7 and January 13 respectively.
On December 15 last year, terrorists killed a police officer during an encounter in Soan village of Majalta area in Udhampur district. The militants managed to escape that time by exploiting thick foliage and darkness.
Heightened Security Operations
These recent encounters follow a major counter-terror operation launched across forest belts of the Jammu region in December 2023. That operation aimed to flush out nearly three dozen terrorists believed to be hiding in the area.
Security operations have intensified further ahead of Republic Day celebrations. Intelligence inputs suggest Pakistan-based handlers are making renewed attempts to push more terrorists into the region, according to officials familiar with the situation.
