Srinagar, Feb 01: Security forces on Sunday resumed a cordon-and-search operation (CASO in the snowbound areas of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district to trace and neutralise three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists believed to be hiding in the region following a brief gunbattle, officials said.
Security has been tightened in the adjoining areas, with Village Defence Guards (VDGs) placed on operational duty to maintain heightened vigilance against any terrorist activity.
A senior Army official told Rising Kashmir that the search operation was resumed this morning after maintaining a night-long cordon.
“Efforts are underway to track down the terrorists, who are continuously changing hideouts and are on the run. Security agencies are also keeping a close watch on individuals suspected of providing food and shelter to the terrorists,” he said.
The operation has been underway for several days in the Chatroo–Dolgam–Dichhar belt of the district. The latest exchange of fire took place early Saturday when Army troops re-established contact with the terrorists in the Dolgam area.
Officials said one terrorist is believed to have been injured in the gunfight, with drone surveillance reportedly indicating bloodstains at the encounter site. This was the fourth contact established with the terrorists in the area over the past two weeks.
The joint operation involves Special Forces, Rashtriya Rifles units, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The official said that aerial surveillance using drones and helicopters is underway, and sniffer dogs have also been inducted into the operation due to the difficult, snow-covered terrain.
He said in view of the ongoing operation, mobile internet services have been temporarily suspended since Friday within a six-kilometre radius of Singhpora, Chingam and Chatroo areas, officials said.
Kishtwar district has witnessed six encounters over the past seven months as security forces continue their crackdown on Pakistan-based terrorist groups operating in the region, which borders Doda and Udhampur districts.
The operation in the area was first launched on January 18 following a fierce gunbattle in the Sonnar forest near Mandral-Singhpora, in which a paratrooper was killed, and seven soldiers were injured.
Although the terrorists managed to escape due to dense forest cover and challenging terrain, the forces continued their pursuit despite heavy snowfall exceeding two feet.
Subsequent encounters were reported at Mali Dana on January 22 and Janseer-Kandiwar on January 25, but the terrorists again managed to slip deeper into forested areas.
Another senior officer said that security forces have deployed state-of-the-art surveillance and tracking equipment to locate the terrorists hiding in the forests of Kishtwar district, officials said.
“Advanced drones with high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging devices, and satellite-based communication systems are being used to monitor movement in the high-altitude terrain, particularly during night hours and in low-visibility conditions,” he said.
The official said that in addition, sniffer dogs and ground-based sensors have been inducted to tighten the search grid and prevent the terrorists from slipping out of the cordoned area.
“The sophisticated equipment has significantly enhanced real-time intelligence gathering and coordination among the Army, police and paramilitary forces, enabling continuous tracking despite heavy snowfall and challenging weather conditions,” he added.
Meanwhile, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma visited Kishtwar on Saturday to review the counter-terrorism grid and lauded the troops for their resolve in the ongoing operations. The visit followed a high-level security review of the evolving security situation in the Jammu region, officials said.
