Forces hunt for terrorists hiding in mountains of Jammu region

Massive combing operations are underway in the mountainous districts of Kishtwar, Udhampur, and Doda in Jammu, following two separate encounters over the past two days, one of which resulted in the death of an Army soldier.

Senior Army and police officials are closely monitoring the situation, receiving regular updates from ground forces that have ventured deep into the dense forest areas of these regions.

The first encounter occurred on Friday evening in the Seoj Dhar area along the Udhampur-Doda axis, during which a soldier sustained injuries and later succumbed. A second encounter broke out on Sunday afternoon in the Keshwan forest belt of Kishtwar.

In a show of high-level engagement, Lt Gen PK Mishra, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps, visited Seoj Gali to review security arrangements and ongoing search operations. He was accompanied by the GOC of the Counter Insurgency Force Delta.

An official spokesperson said, “GOC White Knight Corps, accompanied by GOC Counter Insurgency Force Delta, visited Seoj Gali in Doda district to review the security environment and operational preparedness of troops. He encouraged all ranks to lead with unmatched professional excellence in pursuit of success in counter-insurgency operations.”

The Seoj Dhar area is strategically significant as it connects Udhampur with Doda and lies in rugged, mountainous terrain. The recent encounters were intelligence-based operations, launched after inputs indicated the presence of militants in these remote forest zones.

Security sources believe that multiple groups of Pakistani terrorists have infiltrated into the Jammu region’s forested belts since 2021. These terrorists, reportedly trained and equipped in Pakistan, carry sophisticated weapons such as US-made M4 carbines fitted with night vision scopes and other advanced gadgets.

These infiltrators have been able to ambush Army patrols in the past, resulting in casualties. Despite intensified security measures, infiltration routes remain vulnerable, particularly along the International Border (IB) in Kathua, which is guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF). Intelligence inputs suggest that most infiltrating groups enter India through this sector.

In the Keshwan forests of Kishtwar, after an initial exchange of fire on Sunday, the militants managed to escape deeper into the forest, evading capture. Search operations were ongoing in Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar at the time of filing this report.