Kishtwar encounter: 3rd Jaish terrorist killed in 'Op Trashi-I', AK-47s recovered

Indian Army's White Knight Corps neutralised the third Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist in the Kishtwar encounter during Operation Trashi-I. Weapons and other material were recovered in a joint operation with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF.

Security forces on Sunday neutralised a third terrorist belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, the Indian Army said.

In an official statement, the Army’s White Knight Corps said that troops of CIF (D) under the White Knight Corps carried out the operation jointly with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF as part of ongoing counter-terror efforts.

In a post on X, the Indian Army's White Knight Corps said, "In continued operations under Op Trashi-I in Kishtwar, troops of CIF (D) White Knight Corps, in coordination with J&K Police and CRPF, have neutralised the third terrorist. The remains and the weapon of the terrorist have been recovered." 

According to sources cited by NDTV, the slain  Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist has been identified as Saifullah, who had been active in the region for the past two years and had repeatedly evaded security forces.

The militants were hiding inside a mud house on a hillside in the Chatroo area. The operation was launched after agencies received specific intelligence about their presence and movement, NDTV reported.

As troops moved in to establish the cordon, the terrorists opened fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Security forces retaliated effectively, resulting in the killing of the third militant.

Earlier in the operation, two terrorists had been neutralised at the same site. The Army said troops displayed “tactical precision, seamless synergy and resolute aggression” during the joint action, and two AK-47 rifles were recovered.

Joint teams of the Army, J&K Police and CRPF had tracked the group for several days through the difficult Chatroo–Sonnar terrain before contact was made.