Kathua attacks: Combing operation underway after gunfire between hiding terrorists, security forces

Multi-agency operation resumes to track and eliminate militants hiding in forested area in Kathua after previous encounters.

A seek and destroy operation to track down three militants, believed to be hiding in a forested area in Panjthirthi-Barota in Kathua following an encounter last (March 31, 2025) night, resumed on Tuesday (April 1) with multiple agencies engaged in the effort, officials said.

The area was placed under a cordon after the Monday (March 31) night gunfire between police and militants.

The officials said the three militants are believed to be from a group that had its first face-off with security forces in the Nursery area near the International Border on March 23. All of the militants had managed to escape.

Four days later, security forces engaged them in an encounter in a forest area of the Sanyal belt of Kathua when two militants were eliminated, and the rest managed to flee. During this exchange of fire, four policemen were also killed and three others injured.

With the hiding militants changing their locations in the jungle, the security forces have launched a multi-agency operation to track them down.

The search operation was intensified early on Monday (March 31) morning with aerial surveillance and sniffer dogs being deployed, culminating into a fresh encounter in the night. A night cordon was laid to ensure that the three militants holed-up in the forests do not escape, sources said late on Monday (March 31).

The operation to track and eliminate the militants resumed on Tuesday (April 1) with officials saying security has been reinforced in the area to strengthen the cordon and prevent the ultras from escaping “Search and destroy operations were launched at first light on Tuesday [April 1] morning. Operations in progress”, the Army’s Rising Star Corps said on its X handle.