Search ops continue as ultras hide in forests of Udhampur, Kishtwar

A day after five to six terrorists were reportedly trapped by security forces in Udhampur and Kishtwar districts during separate encounters, search operations resumed on Thursday following night-long cordons. However, the militants apparently managed to evade the J&K Police and Army.

The cordons were imposed after brief encounters on Wednesday between security forces and terrorists in the Jopher-Marta belt of Udhampur and the Chatroo belt of Kishtwar. Contact had been established with the terrorists during these operations, officials said.

Preemptive firing by security forces was reported near the forest area of Jopher village in Udhampur, but no further contact was established with the group of at least two to three terrorists—suggesting they may have escaped despite the cordon.

A similar situation unfolded in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar, where an overnight halt was observed due to darkness in the dense forest. However, no trace of the terrorists was found on Thursday morning, prompting the launch of an intensified search operation.

Operations were initiated after locals informed the security forces about suspicious movements in both areas. During the searches, terrorists opened fire on security personnel, leading to encounters. However, the militants exploited the dense forest cover to take strategic positions, preventing security forces from advancing. Subsequently, the areas were cordoned off to trap the fleeing terrorists.

Given past ambushes during such operations—many of which resulted in the loss of soldiers’ lives—security forces have adopted a cautious approach and do not rush into heavily wooded zones.

Police and security agencies have been tracking terrorist movements across Udhampur, Kishtwar, and Kathua districts for the past 17 days, following three encounters since the operation began on March 24 in the Sanyal area of Kathua. On March 27, two terrorists and four policemen were killed in an encounter in the area.

The terrain—featuring dense forests and natural caves—offers concealment to terrorists, who are reportedly armed with assault rifles and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to target advancing security personnel.

Sources say at least three to four groups of terrorists are currently active in the higher reaches of Udhampur, Kishtwar, and Kathua. In most cases, local residents have alerted authorities upon spotting suspicious movements.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently reviewed the security situation during his three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.