Troops battle terrorists in Udhampur, Kishtwar districts

Jammu: Security forces braved gunfire to close in on terrorists holed up in a forested belt of Ramnagar tehsil in J&K’s Udhampur district on Wednesday, coinciding with another fierce firefight during a combing operation by troops in the jungles of Chatroo in Kishtwar district. Both anti-terror operations were underway till late in the night.

Based on intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in Ramnagar’s Jopher village, security personnel launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area. On spotting the troops, holed-up terrorists opened fire at the search party, triggering a gun battle. Two to three terrorists were believed to be trapped in the cordon, said official sources.

The Chatroo encounter broke out during a cordon-and-search operation following inputs about suspicious movement. While a joint team of forces was combing the forests, it came under intense fire, triggering a gunfight. “Heavy exchange of fire is ongoing,” said an official source, adding that additional troops were deployed to the spot to reinforce the cordon.

Both operations follow the March 24 encounter in Kathua’s Sanyial area in which five Pakistani terrorists killed four policemen. While two terrorists were also shot dead in the firefight, three managed to escape. The multi-tier operation to capture the three fugitives entered its 18th day Wednesday.

On March 31, the terrorists had resurfaced in Panjtirthi-Ramkote — close to Udhampur — but managed to escape the security cordon. The next day (April 1), a brief gunfight broke out as security forces pursued Pakistani terrorists in new areas of J&K’s Kathua district. The operation was expanded on April 3 using drones and military dogs in Udhampur district after armed men demanded food from residents in Khabbal village, seized a mobile phone, and fled into dense forests. They are believed to be the same men spotted in combat clothing in Ghati-Juthana forest on April 1, just a few km from Kathua’s Sufain forest, where the March 24 gunfight occurred. The fugitives have been constantly shifting locations, exploiting the mountainous terrain’s natural cover, such as caves and thick vegetation, officials said.

Kathua district has long been a key infiltration route for terrorists due to its strategic position along the Pakistan border. It connects with Doda and Udhampur districts to the north, providing a corridor to Kashmir Valley. Terrorists prefer this route to move from Kathua to Udhampur and into Doda before entering Kashmir, officials said.

In a separate development, Poonch Police rebutted claims circulating on social media platforms regarding the alleged movement of terrorists in Poonch town. Dismissing these reports, cops urged the public to avoid spreading unverified and sensitive information. “Sharing unverified content on social media can create unnecessary panic and disrupt public order. Social media handles must act responsibly and refrain from circulating baseless claims, especially those that pertain to security matters,” Poonch Police said in a statement.