Three Jaish terrorists killed in Kishtwar encounter

After killing a Pakistani terrorist on Friday morning, security forces neutralised two more in the Naidgam forests of Chatroo in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, officials said.

The three terrorists have been identified as Jaish-e-Mohammad commander Saifullah, and two others named Farman and Basha. Each carried a bounty of ₹5 lakh.

"Security forces launched the operation on April 9. One terrorist was gunned down in the morning, and two more were eliminated later in the day," a senior police officer said.

Personnel from the elite 2, 5, and 9 Para Special Forces of the Army, the CRPF, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) were involved in the encounter.

The operation took place in snow-covered mountains with dense forest cover.

"The Army used helicopters to locate the fleeing terrorists," the officer added.

A large quantity of arms, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the site.

Brigadier JVS Rathi, commander of the 5 Sector Assam Rifles, and DIG Shridhar Patil of the Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban range will brief the media about the operation at the 5 Assam Rifles headquarters on Saturday.

Security forces have also launched parallel anti-terror operations in Udhampur and Kishtwar districts. Officials believe the terrorists are part of a group that recently infiltrated through the international border in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district.

In one incident amid these operations, three armed terrorists—believed to be from Jaish-e-Mohammad—entered a villager’s home in Basantgarh, Udhampur district, late on Wednesday. They ate food, took a mobile phone, clothes, shoes, a bag, and an umbrella before leaving.

Earlier, on April 3, two terrorists had entered another home in the Chore Panjwa-Khabbal area of Udhampur’s Majalta block. They held the family hostage, stole a mobile phone and food, and fled around 10 PM. This is the same area where security forces had earlier spotted terrorists on April 3.

The group was first sighted in a forest in Saniyal village of the Hiranagar sector on March 23. Security forces have been tracking their movements since then.

On March 27, two terrorists and four policemen were killed in an encounter in the Sufain forest near Jakhole village in Kathua district.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in the Keri Battal sector of Akhnoor to push armed terrorists across the border. Alert Indian troops foiled the attempt.

During the heavy exchange of fire, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), Kuldeep Singh, was critically injured. He was airlifted to a garrison hospital but later died from his injuries.

"At around 9:15 PM, the Pakistani Army opened fire with small arms on an Indian forward post in the Keri-Battal sector under Police Station Khour in Akhnoor," officials said. "In retaliation, Indian troops fired back in the same direction."

The Army is expected to issue an official statement soon.