Srinagar, Mar 18: Two elite specialised units of J&K Police – Snow Leopards and Markhor – deployed in the snow-bound peaks and dense forest belts of the Jammu region have contributed to a marked decline in terror incidents in the upper reaches of Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur and Kathua districts, sources said.
The units were formed within the Special Operation Group (SOG) after DGP Nalin Prabhat assumed charge and began restructuring counter-terror operations with a focused approach on difficult terrain, responding to a surge in terror attacks in 2023-24 that raised serious security concerns across the twin border districts and upper reaches.
Sources said Prabhat recognised the unique geographical challenges of the region — dense forests, rugged mountains and high-altitude areas — and introduced a specialised operational framework to address them. “The Snow Leopards unit is centrally located and primarily tasked with operations in snowbound and higher mountain tops and ridges. The Markhor units, spread across the UT, are specially trained and deployed to dominate forest belts and mountainous terrain — areas that had long been exploited by terrorist groups for infiltration and hideouts,” sources said.
To build operational capacity, selected personnel from both units were sent to the Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh and trained alongside elite Army units in jungle warfare, endurance and specialised combat techniques.
“By 2025, the number of terror incidents in the region saw a marked reduction, reflecting improved intelligence coordination, better area domination and swift neutralisation of threats. This strategy not only disrupted terror networks but also restored a sense of security among local populations in far-flung areas,” sources said.
Addressing a Passing Out Parade at STC Talwara recently, DGP Prabhat confirmed the tactical shift. “Over the past two years, J&K Police altered its operational strategy and intensified action in remote forests and mountains where terrorists have attempted to regroup. The battle has shifted to the jungles and upper reaches. We are moving upwards into these areas to get them and destroy their hideouts,” he said.
He also referred to last year’s Operation Mahadev, in which security forces eliminated three Pakistani terrorists responsible for the killing of 26 civilians in the Baisaran area of Pahalgam. “Police had pursued them deep inside the forest before neutralising them,” he said.
KNO
