In a significant victory for security forces, three terrorists, including a high-ranking Jaish-e-Mohammad commander, were eliminated during an intense operation in the Naidgam forests of Chatroo in Kishtwar district on Friday morning. The slain militants have been identified as Saifullah, Farman, and Basha, each carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh for information leading to their capture.

The operation, which took place in the snow-covered, densely forested mountains, involved an elite team of commandos from the 2, 5, and 9 Para of the Army, alongside the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Officials confirmed that a large quantity of arms, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the encounter site, underscoring the severity of the operation.

The anti-terror offensive is part of a wider, ongoing strategy to eliminate terrorist elements operating in the region. Brigadier JVS Rathi, commander of the 5 Sector Assam Rifles, and DIG Shridhar Patil of the Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban range are scheduled to brief the media on the operation's details at the 5 Assam Rifles headquarters on Saturday.

In addition to this successful encounter, security forces have launched simultaneous operations in the nearby districts of Udhampur and Kishtwar to track down remaining terrorists, believed to be part of a larger group that infiltrated through the international border in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district.

The operation follows a recent incident where a group of three armed terrorists, suspected to be from Jaish-e-Mohammad, infiltrated Basantgarh village in Udhampur district late Wednesday. The terrorists reportedly ransacked a villager’s house, stealing food, a mobile phone, clothes, shoes, a bag, and an umbrella before leaving.