Encounter Underway in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar, 2-3 Terrorists Believed To Be Trapped

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gunfire broke out between terrorists and security forces on Wednesday in the Kishtwar district. Two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped. One Army jawan was injured during the anti-terror operation in Kishtwar, sources told Times Now. The injured trooper was immediately evacuated to the Army Command Hospital in Udhampur.The encounter is underway in the densely populated Kalaban forest area of Chhatru sub division of Kishtwar. According to the security forces, the operation began after they received specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the region. The security forces launched a coordinated search operation in the early hours of Wednesday, and they came under fire, leading to an exchange of fire.

The joint operation was launched by the Indian Army's White Knight Corps, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police. "In an intelligence-based operation, launched in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police early this morning, alert troops of the White Knight Corps established contact with terrorists in the general area of Chhatru," the White Knight Corps said in a post on X."The operation is in progress," it added.

The Chhatru area, located in the higher reaches of Kishtwar, has seen sporadic militant activity over the past year. The security forces have intensified counter-terror operations in the region. Earlier this year, the security forces had busted a Hamas-style terror hideout in Dool area of Kishtwar. It is believed that the terrorists were taking shelter using tactics reminiscent of Hamas to evade detection. After carrying out the blast at the entrance of the natural cave situated deep inside the hilllock within the dense forest area, the security forces in their search, found the 30-40 feet natural cave hideout that can accommodate over half a dozen people.It had multiple escape routes covered with grass and bushes. The security personnel leading the operation in Kishtwar were surprised to see the modifications and preparations of Hamas-type hideouts, planned in a well-thought-out manner.