In a fierce encounter on Thursday in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, three policemen and two militants were killed. The operation took place in the Hiranagar sub-division on the fifth day of an intensive combing operation by joint security forces.
While there has been no official confirmation from the authorities, sources revealed that two of the deceased policemen, including a selection grade constable, were personal security officers (PSOs) of the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Border.
The operation began after nearly half a dozen militants were first spotted in the forests of Saniyal village near the International Border on Sunday evening. A local couple, Ganesh and his wife, Jyoti, who had gone for firewood gathering, noticed the militants’ presence and informed the authorities. Since the village is situated near the International Border, it is suspected that the militants infiltrated from Pakistan recently.
For the last five days, security personnel, headed by J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, have been carrying out extensive search and combing operations in different regions of the Hiranagar sector.
During the course of the investigation, security agencies have arrested seven people for interrogation. Six among them—Shakeel, Feroz, Ali, Fareed, Rafaqat, and Bashir—are suspected of giving logistical assistance to the militants. They have been accused of helping the militants cross the International Border in the past, and in 2024, they were reportedly interrogated in an apparently related context.
By Tuesday, the security forces had expanded their search, combing dense forested areas and moving towards the International Border, approximately five kilometers from Saniyal village. They also extended their search towards the Jammu-Pathankote national highway.
The encounter site, nearly 30 km from where the militants were initially spotted, suggests that they had crossed the highway and were possibly heading towards Udhampur or Doda through Kathua’s Ghati area.
During their operations, security forces recovered two grenades and empty M4 ammunition shells from the forests on Tuesday. A day earlier, they had found several M4 carbine magazines, a bulletproof jacket, and other equipment abandoned by the militants.
Authorities noted that the operation has been prolonged due to the militants taking cover in dense forests, making it challenging to locate and neutralize them. Security forces continue their efforts to eliminate any remaining threats in the region.
