Seven Indian Army soldiers were injured on Sunday during a fierce gunbattle with terrorists in the rugged terrain of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident occurred during a joint counter terrorism operation involving the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police.
The operation, part of a sustained anti terror push in the region, was launched in the Sonnar area near Chatroo, where security forces had established a cordon based on specific intelligence about the presence of militants. Contact was made around noon, triggering an exchange of fire between troops and terrorists believed to be hiding in the dense forested area.
According to officials, the injured soldiers were promptly evacuated to a military hospital for treatment. Two of the troops are reported to be in critical condition. Reinforcements from the Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been rushed to strengthen the cordon and prevent any escape by the militants.
The Army’s White Knight Corps confirmed that the operation, named Operation Trashi-I, remains ongoing, with additional forces and advanced surveillance tools such as drones deployed to intensify search efforts.
Officials suspect the involvement of militants linked to Pakistan based terror groups, potentially Jaish e Mohammad (JeM), who opened fire and lobbed grenades in an attempt to break the security cordon.
Kishtwar has seen multiple encounters in recent months as security forces continue efforts to root out terrorist hideouts in the high altitude forest belts. The intensified operations come amid heightened security measures ahead of Republic Day celebrations, and in line with directives from senior leadership to maintain pressure on terror networks.
