Fresh Contact Established in Kishtwar as Operation Trashi-I Enters 14th Day
In a significant development in Jammu and Kashmir's ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, security forces established fresh contact with a group of terrorists early Saturday morning. This marks the fourth such encounter in the past two weeks during the extensive search operation codenamed Trashi-I.
Operation Details and Security Response
The contact was triggered in a forest area within the Chatroo subdivision of Kishtwar district, where forces have been actively engaged since January 18. According to officials, intelligence from multiple credible sources was meticulously coordinated to plan the ground operation.
The Army's White Knight Corps, based in Nagrota, Jammu, confirmed the development in a social media post, stating: "During the ongoing joint Operation TRASHI-I, contact with terrorists was re-established in the early hours in the general area of Dolgam by troops of White Knight Corps, J&K Police and CRPF. A cordon has been established and operations are in progress."
Command Review and Operational History
Northern Army Commander, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, visited Kishtwar on Saturday to review the counter-terrorism grid. He commended the troops for their unwavering resolve in the ongoing anti-terror operation, which aims to track down and neutralize a group of two to three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists holed up in the snowbound Chatroo belt.
The operation has seen several key incidents since its inception:
- January 18: Initial gunfight in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora, resulting in one trooper killed and several injured.
- January 19-20: Security forces busted a terrorist hideout, recovering a large quantity of assorted ration, consumable items including Maggie packets, utensils, and an LPG cylinder.
- January 22: Encounter in the general forest area of Mali Dana Top in Chatroo.
- January 25: Encounter in the Janseer-Kandiwar forest area.
Intensified Search and Security Measures
Security forces have significantly intensified the search operation, deploying multiple teams comprising Army, police, and paramilitary personnel. These teams are backed by advanced technology including drones and sniffer dogs to comb the challenging hilly terrain and track the fleeing terrorists.
To prevent any misuse by anti-national elements during the operation, mobile internet services were temporarily suspended on Friday within a six-kilometer radius covering Singhpora, Chingam, and Chatroo.
Additional Security Alert in Samba District
In a related development, security forces launched a search operation following the sighting of a suspected Pakistani drone along the International Border in Jammu's Samba district on Saturday. Officials reported that the drone briefly hovered over Indian territory near Chillyari village before retreating, prompting immediate security measures.
The continued engagements and heightened security protocols underscore the persistent challenges in the region and the determined efforts of security forces to maintain stability and neutralize terrorist threats in Jammu and Kashmir.
