Jammu: A massive search operation is underway in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir to track down a group of terrorists in the forested area here. With elite National Security Guard (NSG), Army and Police at the spot, the operation on Tuesday entered Day 3.
The operation, led by Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, was launched on Sunday in the Hiranagar sector after an encounter between security forces and terrorists hiding in a nursery.
Helicopter surveillance and joint troop deployment
An army helicopter was seen flying over the region as joint troops, including commandos equipped with heavy weapons, sniffer dogs, drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), continued their search for terrorists believed to be trapped in the area.
How Kathua encounter started
The operation was initiated by a Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police after receiving intelligence about the presence of terrorists inside a ‘dhok’—a local term for an enclosure—within a nursery in Sanyal village, about five kilometers from the International Border with Pakistan.
As the security forces tightened their cordon, the suspected terrorists opened fire, leading to an intense gunfight that lasted for over half an hour. Reinforcements were quickly dispatched, and a manhunt was launched to track down the terrorists, suspected of infiltrating on Saturday via the ravine route or a newly discovered tunnel.
Security measures and overnight vigil
Officials said there has been no casualty during the initial exchange of fire. Security forces maintained a tight cordon around the area overnight before moving in at dawn to continue the operation.
Recovery of arms and equipment
On Monday, joint search teams discovered various items linked to the infiltrators, including:
Four loaded M4 carbine magazines
Two grenades
A bulletproof jacket
Sleeping bags
Tracksuits
Several packets of eatables
Unidentified polythene bags
Top cop leading Kathua operation
The police chief, along with Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, has been czmping in Kathua, directly overseeing the operation from the ground. The police chief was seen carrying an AK assault rifle and leading the troops deep inside the forested region.
Reports of multiple infiltrating groups
According to intelligence inputs, at least two groups, each consisting of five terrorists, are believed to have infiltrated on Saturday. The search operation remains active as security personnel track the suspects.
Locals come out in support of security forces
Local villagers organised a community kitchen to provide meals for security personnel and journalists stationed at the outer cordon of the operation site.
Some local women collecting firewood in the nursery area reported seeing around five heavily armed terrorists. A seven-year-old girl sustained minor injuries when a stray bullet passed close to her arm. She was immediately taken to a local hospital.
One of the villagers, Anita Devi, recounted the encounter when terrorists confronted her and her husband at the nursery.
“The terrorists held my husband at gunpoint and asked me to come closer. My husband signaled me to run, and as I did, one of them tried to stop me. I started shouting, which alerted two more people cutting grass nearby,” Anita Devi told PTI.
The incident reportedly occurred around 4:30 pm on Sunday. She later informed the police about the event. Anita Devi noted that the terrorists had beards and were dressed in commando-style outfits.
The search continues as security forces comb through the region, determined to neutralize the threat and ensure the safety of local residents.
