Search operation continues in Kishtwar

A search operation continued for the second consecutive day in Kishtwar district following an encounter between security forces and terrorists, in which an Army soldier was injured, officials said.

The gunfight began on Wednesday after the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint operation based on intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the Chhatru area of the district.

An Army official said that the search operation resumed on Thursday to trace the hiding terrorists. “No exchange of fire has been reported since Wednesday, but the area remains under tight cordon,” the official added.

The operation is being supported by drones and sniffer dogs, while additional reinforcements have been deployed to plug possible escape routes and strengthen the perimeter.

Security forces continue to maintain high alert and are closely monitoring the movement of suspected militants in the mountainous terrain of Kishtwar, which has witnessed a spike in militant activity in recent months.

Officials said Kishtwar has witnessed six encounters in the past seven months as forces intensify counter-terror operations against Pakistan-based militants operating in the region, which shares borders with Doda and Udhampur districts.