According to Kashmir Media News reports, security forces have intensified their operation in the dense forests of Panjthirthi-Barota in Kathua, where three militants are believed to be hiding. The multi-agency operation, involving the Army, Police, CRPF, BSF, and NSG, was launched after an encounter broke out late Monday night.
The militants, suspected to be part of a group that first clashed with security forces near the International Border on March 23, had previously managed to escape. On March 27, another confrontation in the Sanyal belt of Kathua led to the elimination of two militants, but the remaining members fled. The gunfight also claimed the lives of four policemen, leaving three others injured.
Determined to track them down, security forces have deployed aerial surveillance, sniffer dogs, and night ambush tactics to tighten the cordon. The Army’s Rising Star Corps confirmed on social media that a “search and destroy” mission is in full swing.
The operation expanded to Rui, Juthana, Ghati, and Sanyal, with reports that the militants, disguised in black robes, briefly entered a villager’s home in Rui. They took food and attempted to leave behind money, which the elderly woman refused.
Security agencies stress that militants depend on local support for survival. Six individuals, including women, have been detained for allegedly providing assistance. Among them are relatives of Mohammad Latief, an overground worker (OGW) already jailed under the Public Safety Act for aiding terrorists in a deadly attack on an Army truck last year. One of the slain militants, Abu Tala, is also believed to have taken shelter at Latief’s home.
As forces tighten their grip, the hunt for the remaining militants in Kashmir continues, with authorities determined to eliminate the threat.
