Search operation intensifies in Kishtwar after Para Commando martyred in gunfight with terrorists

Search Ops intensify in Kishtwar

A large-scale search operation is underway in the forests of Kishtwar district in Jammu & Kashmir, where security forces are trying to trace the terrorists behind a deadly gunfight on Sunday that led to the death of a Para Commando and the injury of three other soldiers. The operation, which has been ongoing for more than four days, is focused on the densely wooded Keshwan area, where the encounter took place.

On Sunday, joint teams of the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police intercepted a group of terrorists in the Keshwan forest area around 11 a.m. This led to intense exchanges of gunfire that lasted for over four hours. During the encounter, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar, from the Army’s elite 2 Para commando regiment, was killed. Three other soldiers sustained injuries in the firefight.

Officials confirmed that the search operation is focused on locating and neutralizing three to four terrorists who are believed to be hiding in the area and are responsible for the recent killings of two Village Defence Guards (VDGs), Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, in the nearby Ohli village. The VDGs were abducted and brutally murdered in the forest region earlier in the week.

The operation, known as Cordon and Search Operation (CASO), has been in effect since Friday, with security forces scouring the thick forests for any trace of the militants. However, after the initial gunfight on Sunday, no fresh contact with the terrorists has been reported.

“The terrorists involved in the killing of the VDGs are believed to be holed up in the Keshwan forests. We are intensifying our efforts to neutralize them,” an official said, adding that the topography and dense foliage in the area present significant challenges for the security forces.

The deaths of the two VDGs have sparked widespread anger in the region. Hundreds of locals attended their funeral on Sunday, and a complete shutdown was observed in Kishtwar town in protest against the killings. The heightened tensions underscore the growing concerns over the increasing activity of foreign mercenaries in the region.

In recent months, foreign-backed militants have been active in the hilly areas of Jammu’s Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, and Udhampur districts. These militants have employed guerrilla tactics, carrying out targeted attacks on the army, security forces, police, and civilians, before retreating into the forested areas, making it difficult for the security forces to track them.

The situation in Kishtwar and surrounding areas remains volatile, with authorities continuing to monitor the movement of terrorists and militants. The use of dense forest cover by terrorists to evade capture has been a key challenge for security forces in the region. Despite these challenges, the army and police have vowed to continue their operations until the perpetrators are brought to justice.

The growing presence of foreign mercenaries and their ruthless tactics have added to the complexity of security operations in the Jammu division. As the search continues in Keshwan, the region remains on high alert, with security forces determined to neutralize the threat posed by these militants.

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