Security forces have escalated search and cordon operations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, following an exchange of fire with terrorists in the Panjtirthi area on Monday night.
Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint operation involving the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF has deployed multiple surveillance teams and ambush points in the region. The operation was heightened after suspicious movement was detected on March 31, leading to an encounter with terrorists.
In an official statement, the Rising Star Corps of the Indian Army confirmed that the forces launched a search-and-destroy mission at first light on April 1, and operations remain ongoing.
“Acting on intelligence inputs, multiple surveillance and ambush teams were deployed in the Panjtirthi area. Suspicious movement was observed on the night of March 31, leading to an exchange of fire. Search and destroy operations commenced at dawn on April 1 and remain in progress,” the Army posted on X.
The heightened security comes after an intense encounter in Kathua last week under Operation Safiyan, where four Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel lost their lives, while two terrorists were neutralized. Security forces also recovered war-like stores from the encounter site.
DIG Sharma acknowledged the loss of a jawan in the Kathua encounter, expressing sadness over the casualty but emphasizing that the morale and training of the troops remain strong.
Authorities have placed the entire region on high alert, with security forces determined to eliminate any potential threats. The operation initially began on March 23, after locals reported sightings of suspected Pakistani infiltrators in Sanyal.