Special Forces Havaldar killed in gunfight with terrorists in Kishtwar

Indian Army’s Special Forces Havaldar was martyred in the ongoing encounter with Pakistani terrorists in the forests of Chatroo in the Kishtwar district, the White Knight Corps of the Army said on Monday.

The soldier, Gajendra Singh, was critically wounded during the encounter with terrorists last evening and shifted to the military hospital at Udhampur, where he succumbed to his injuries. Seven other soldiers were also injured when terrorists lobbed grenades at them.

Advertisement

The White Knight Corps wrote on X; “The GOC, White Knight Corps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces, who made the supreme sacrifice while gallantly executing a counterterrorism operation in the Singpura area during the ongoing Operation TRASHI-I on the night of 19 Jan 2026”.

“We honour his indomitable courage, valour and selfless devotion to duty and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of profound grief,” the Army said.

With the first sunlight this morning, Army helicopters were pressed into service as security forces resumed the search and cordon operation in Kishtwar district to track down a group of terrorists believed to be hiding in the upper reaches of the area, officials said.

The operation, launched on Sunday in the Sonar village area near Mandral–Singhpura in the Chatroo sector, was suspended late Sunday night due to difficult terrain and poor visibility.

The joint teams of the Army, police, and paramilitary forces resumed the operation and tightened the cordon to prevent any escape, officials said.

Drones and sniffer dogs are being used to comb the densely forested area, while army helicopters are conducting sorties to maintain aerial surveillance over the operation zone.

According to intelligence inputs, two to three terrorists, suspected to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), are believed to be trapped in the area.

Officials said there had been no fresh contact with the terrorists since yesterday’s exchange of fire.
Contact was established with terrorists in the general area of Sonar, northeast of Chhatru, during a deliberate search operation conducted as part of ongoing joint counter-terror operations along with J&K Police.

Troops displayed exceptional professionalism and resolve while responding to hostile fire under challenging terrain and conditions. Operations remain underway with additional forces inducted to reinforce the cordon, supported by close coordination with civil administration and security agencies, an Army spokesman added.