JAMMU, Feb 22: Three members of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), including a top commander identified as Saifullah, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kishtwar district on Sunday, officials said.
The terrorists were neutralised during “Operation Trashi-I” in the general area of Passerkut in the Chatroo belt following a coordinated joint operation based on credible intelligence inputs. Two AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.
According to officials, the terrorists were hiding inside a mud house on the foothills when joint search parties approached the location. The ultras opened fire, triggering an intense gunfight. During the exchange of fire, the mud house caught fire and was completely gutted, resulting in the bodies of the three terrorists being charred beyond recognition.
Preliminary assessments by security agencies suggest that one of the slain terrorists is most likely Saifullah, a notorious JeM commander who had reportedly infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir nearly five years ago. He had remained active in the region and was allegedly the mastermind behind several deadly attacks on security forces, including a July 2024 attack in which four soldiers were killed. Saifullah had managed to escape multiple encounters in the past.
The body of the third terrorist, along with a weapon, was retrieved from the gutted structure later in the evening. Efforts are underway to establish the identities of the slain ultras through forensic examination.
The operation was carried out by troops of the Counter-Intelligence Force (CIF) Delta, in close coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF. The Army said that the action was launched following credible intelligence inputs collated from J-K Police, the Intelligence Bureau and other sources.
In a post on X, the White Knight Corps said that after establishing contact earlier, troops re-engaged the terrorists at around 11 am in challenging terrain and weather conditions. “Displaying tactical precision, seamless synergy and resolute aggression, the troops dominated the encounter site. The hunt continues — those who seek to disturb peace will find no sanctuary,” it said.
Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma complimented the troops for their “swift and precise” action. He commended the commanders and soldiers for their persistence in difficult terrain and reiterated that the Northern Command remains committed to ensuring a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chatroo forest belt has witnessed nearly half-a-dozen encounters since January 18. A soldier was martyred in an encounter on January 18, while a Pakistani terrorist was eliminated on February 4. With Sunday’s operation, seven JeM terrorists have been neutralised in separate encounters across the Jammu region this year. Earlier, two terrorists were killed in the Ramanagar forest of Udhampur on February 4 and one was eliminated in Parhetar village of Kathua on January 23.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, a truck driver was detained for questioning after several Pakistani contact numbers were found on his mobile phone during checking at Pangdour Chowk in Samba district late Saturday evening. The truck was on its way to Kashmir when it was stopped at a checkpoint. Police said further investigation is underway.
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