After a 12-day lull, security forces on Saturday morning re-established contact with a group of fleeing Pakistani terrorists in the Dolgam area of Kishtwar, triggering a fierce gunfight with troops of the Indian Army.
Unconfirmed reports claim that three security forces personnel and a terrorist were injured during the exchange of fire. At least four terrorists were trapped in the area as the security forces tightened the cordon.
Reports said that the injured terrorist was spotted by a drone.
The Army’s White Knight Corps, along with the CRPF and J&K Police, at around 5.30 am re-established contact with terrorists involved in the 18 January encounter in which a Havildar of the Special Forces was killed and seven jawans injured at Chhatru in the Kishtwar district.
GoC-in-C Northern Command Lt General Pratik Sharma flew to Kishtwar this morning to review the counter terrorism grid and operational preparedness.
Security forces had established contact with this group of terrorists twice on 22 and 25 January, but they somehow managed to escape.
Unconfirmed reports claim that a wanted top terrorist, Saifullah, is likely among others trapped in the Dolgam encounter.
The Army has launched ‘Operation TRASHI-1’ to flush out the Pakistani terrorists from the mountain areas of the Kishtwar, Doda, Udhampur and Kathua districts of the Jammu division. The security forces have moved deeper into the dense forests amid hostile weather conditions and heavy snow.
The White Knight Corps wrote on X; “During the ongoing joint Operation TRASHI-I, contact with terrorists was re-established in the early hours of 31 January 2026, in the general area of Dolgam by troops of White Knight Corps, J&K Police and CRPF. Intelligence from all sources had been coordinated to provide inputs to execute the operation on the ground. A cordon has been established, and operations are in progress”.
Northern Army Commander Lt General Pratik Sharma was personally overseeing the Operation and “he visited Kishtwar to review the Counter Terrorism grid and operational preparedness. The Army Commander while interacting with the ground Commanders and the ever committed troops, commended them for their unwavering resolve in the ongoing efforts”.
Lt General Pratik Sharma, on Friday, chaired a comprehensive joint security review meeting with key stakeholders at the White Knight headquarters at Nagrota, to assess the evolving security dynamics in the region.
The forum discussed seamless synergy in Operations, joint combat readiness and strengthening of the Counter Terrorism grid. Modalities for heightened alertness were also formulated, leveraging all available resources in the region.