Counter terrorist operation intensified in Kishtwar

Jammu, Jan 30: Intensified Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) continued in Chhatru, Singhpora and adjoining areas of Kishtwar district on Friday to hunt down hiding terrorists while mobile data services also remained suspended temporarily in these areas since January 23, 2026.

With regard to the continuous suspension of mobile data services, J&K Principal Secretary Home, Chandraker Bharti confirmed the order issued by the Inspector General of Police, Jammu zone Bhim Sen Tuti vis-à-vis the directions to the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)/Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to suspend mobile data services (2G/3G/4G/5G) temporarily within six-kilometer radius of Chhatru, Chingham and Singhpora areas of Kishtwar district to avoid their misuse by the anti-national elements.

The IGP, Jammu zone, Jammu being the authorised officer under sub rule (1) of Rule 3 of Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Service Rules, 2024, had issued directions to the Telecom Service Providers and Internet Service Providers to suspend mobile data services (2G/3G/4G/5G) temporarily to avoid their misuse by anti-national elements in the interest of sovereignty and Integrity of India and the security of J&K UT in these areas of district Kishtwar of Jammu province with effect from January 29, 2026 to January 30, 2026 till 11.59 pm.

According to J&K Home Principal Secretary, the order issued by IGP Jammu mentioned that mobile data services were “likely to be misused by anti-national elements or miscreants, which may cause deterioration in public order and unrest among the general masses.”

Bharti, while confirming the IGP’s order, said that upon consideration of the various aspects as brought out in the material provided by the authorised officer (IGP), he (Bharti) was satisfied that there was “absolute necessity for issuance of these (suspension) directions by him (IGP) without obtaining prior approval of the competent authority, in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State or UT and for maintaining order.”

In Kishtwar district, the security forces, according to sources, had established last contact with the hiding terrorists, during a search operation in Kandiwar forests in Chhatru on January 25 night, thus ensuing exchange of gunfire.

However, the terrorists managed to escape. The cordon of security forces remained in place, covering a wider expanse of forests in Chhatru.

Prior to it, on January 22 also, an exchange of firing between the security forces and the hiding terrorists took place in Singhpora forests, in the vicinity of Son-Nar stretch, which witnessed fierce gunfight on January 18, 2026, in Chhatru area.

A well-equipped terrorist hideout was busted on Monday, January 19, 2026 in the vicinity of the encounter site and the security forces also detained a few individuals to unearth the Over Ground Workers, who helped the terrorists in creating infrastructure in deep forests amid treacherous heights and replenishing it.

The gunfight on January 18 erupted after the security forces came under heavy fire and grenade attack by the hiding terrorists during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Son Nar forest stretch.

A group of two to three terrorists, believed to be affiliated to Jaish-e-Mohammad, was engaged in the gunfire in the ‘Operation Trashi.’

Eight soldiers sustained injuries in the grenade attack by the terrorists, out of whom one paratrooper – Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces succumbed to his injuries.