A gunfight erupted on Sunday between security forces and terrorists in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, according to officials is know as Kathua Gunfight.
Authorities reported that the joint forces initiated a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Sanyal village, located near the international border in the Hiranagar sector, due to suspicious activities in the area.
As the army, along with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), closed in on the suspected terrorists, they came under fire, leading to an ongoing encounter. Sources indicate that there may be four to five terrorists hiding within the cordoned area, prompting reinforcements to be sent to secure all exit routes.
The international border with Pakistan runs through this district, and there have been previous attempts by terrorists to infiltrate India from across the border.
Recently, three civilians—Darshan Singh (40), Yogesh Singh (32), and Varun Singh (14)—went missing after attending a wedding in Marhoon village on March 5. Their bodies were discovered on March 8 near a waterfall after extensive search efforts involving the Army, police, drones, and sniffer dogs.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed deep concern over the brutal killings of these three relatives by terrorists in the Bani area of Kathua.
In response to these incidents, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan visited Jammu on March 9 to lead a high-level security meeting focused on ensuring safety for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra starting July 3 and discussing the inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).
The security situation in Jammu has become increasingly concerning as terrorist activities have spread beyond Poonch and Rajouri districts into areas that were once considered free from such violence, including Udhampur and Kathua.
In recent years, terrorists have been using advanced weapons and tactics, including ambushing vehicles and employing grenades and armor-piercing bullets. Analysts note that this escalation in violence is partly due to anti-terror operations in Kashmir pushing militants into mountainous regions where they can plan attacks on security forces.
This situation highlights a significant rise in militancy in the Pir Panjal region, as armed groups seek opportunities to strike amid heightened tensions.
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