Kumar Bahukhandi
An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in a remote forest area in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir (Representational file image: PTI)
The terrorists, hiding inside a mudhouse on the foothills of a hill, opened fire on the approaching troops, leading to an intense gunfight
Srinagar: Two militants, one of them believed to be a senior commander of the proscribed militant outfit Jaish‑e‑Muhammad (JeM) have been killed in an ongoing gunfight with security forces in the remote Passerkut area of Jammu and Kashmir’s eastern Kishtwar district.
The encounter, which began on Sunday February 22 , 2026 morning after security agencies received intelligence inputs about the presence of two Pakistani militants hiding in the rugged Chatroo belt, officials in Jammu confirmed.
According to officials, joint teams of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) swiftly launched a coordinated search operation in the area at around 10.30 am. As the forces approached a mud house located at the foothills of a forested ridge, the hiding militants opened fire, triggering a fierce exchange.
A report said that the security forces eventually brought down the mud structure where the militants were entrenched, using controlled explosives and grenade launchers to break their cover. As the blasts were carried out, troops simultaneously maintained sustained small‑arms fire to prevent the militants from escaping, ensuring the threat was neutralised during the ongoing operation, the report said.
The Army’s Nagrota‑based 16 Corps—popularly known as the White Knight Corps—acknowledged the encounter and killing of two militants on the microblogging platform ‘X’, noting that troops had established contact with the militants and cordoned off the area as the operation continued. It said, “Pursuant to credible intelligence inputs collated from Jammu and Kashmir Police and Intelligence Bureau and own intelligence sources, a deliberate joint operation was launched in the Kishtwar region under Operation Trashi-I to track and neutralise terrorists operating in the area. Following successful contact established earlier, troops of CIF Delta White Knight Corps, in close coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF re-engaged the terrorists today at approximately 11.00 am in challenging terrain”
It added, “Displaying tactical precision, seamless synergy and resolute aggression, troops dominated the encounter site wherein two terrorists have been successfully neutralised. War-like stores including two AK-47 rifles have also been recovered. The hunt continues-those who seek to disturb peace will find no sanctuary. We Serve, We protect!”.
This confrontation comes amid a heightened security push under Operation Thrashi, a large‑scale counter‑terrorism initiative recently intensified across the Jammu region. The operation aims to dismantle militant networks, disrupt overground worker (OGW) structures, and neutralise support systems—both physical and digital—that enable militant activity. Security agencies have expanded surveillance, deployed advanced monitoring tools, and increased ground presence in remote and forested belts that militants have historically used for concealment.
The renewed offensive follows directives issued by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent visit to Jammu, where he underscored the need to eliminate an estimated 30–35 active Pakistani militants, most of them linked to JeM and believed to be operating from high‑altitude forested zones in the Chenab valley.
Running parallel to the current operation is Operation Trashi I, launched on January 18 in the dense forests of Kishtwar, including the Chatroo, Singpora, and Janseer Kandiwa areas. This earlier phase brought together the Army’s 16 Corps, Para Special Forces, J&K Police, and the CRPF. Despite heavy snowfall and treacherous terrain, security forces employed drones, UAVs, sniffer dogs, and thermal imaging devices to track militant movement and uncover hideouts. That operation resulted in the killing of at least one Pakistani JeM militant and the recovery of arms, ammunition, and logistical supplies from multiple encounter sites. However, it also came with significant sacrifice—eight soldiers were injured, and Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Para Special Forces succumbed to his injuries, highlighting the intensity and risk inherent in these operations.
As the latest encounter in Passerkut continues, officials said that the security forces remain on high alert, determined to dismantle the remaining militant presence in the region and prevent further infiltration attempts.
