Encounter starts in Kishtwar
Jammu, Sep 21: Amid continuing operation in Seoj Dhar forests bordering Doda and Udhampur districts, a fresh encounter Sunday erupted when the security forces established contact with the terrorists, ensuing heavy exchange of fire in Keshwan forests of Kishtwar district.
Reinforcement was rushed while a strict cordon was put in place in and around the Keshwan encounter site.
“There was no fresh contact yet the operations were in progress at both the places,” PRO Defence Jammu Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said.
Operation at Seoj Dhar entered its third day on Sunday. Meanwhile, homage was paid at Air Force Station (AFS) Jammu to the Army soldier Baldev Chand, who was killed in an exchange of fire between the security forces and terrorists in Seoj Dhar forests on Friday night.
In yet another development, the Border Security Force (BSF), joined by other security agencies Sunday continued the search operation, launched after the border guarding force personnel detected the movement of a drone emerging from Pakistan along the International Border (IB) in the R S Pura sector of Jammu on Saturday evening.
With regard to the Kishwar encounter, Nagrota-based White Knight (16) Corps of the Indian Army confirmed on its official ‘X’ handle that the contact of its troops with the terrorists, during an intelligence-based operation, was established in Keshwan on Sunday afternoon, leading to an exchange of fire.
“Alert troops of White Knight Corps at around 1 pm today, while carrying out an intelligence-based operation in the general area of Kishtwar, have established contact with terrorists. Fire exchanged with terrorists. Operation is in progress,” White Knight Corps posted, with a tagline ‘Contact with terrorists - Op Keshwan.’
Earlier during the day, in a solemn wreath-laying ceremony, Chief of Staff, White Knight Corps, Major General P S Dagar, laid a wreath at Air Force Station, Jammu, to pay homage to Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand, who was killed in the line of duty in the Seoj Dhar operation.
“His supreme sacrifice stands as a beacon of courage and duty, inspiring future generations,” White Knight Corps later posted on ‘X’, paying tributes to its soldier.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban (DKR) Range, Shridhar Patil, and other senior officers of civil and Police administration also paid homage in the wreath-laying ceremony.
Later, Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand’s mortal remains were flown to his native place in Himachal Pradesh.
Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand had sustained grievous injuries during an exchange of fire between the joint team of the Indian Army and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and the terrorists during the intervening night of September 19 and 20, 2025, in Seoj Dhar forests.
Exchange of fire ensued after the security forces, during a search operation on an intelligence input, established contact with the terrorists in the forest stretch bordering Doda and Udhampur districts late Friday (September 19) evening.
The injured soldier succumbed on Saturday in the hospital.
Meanwhile, along the International Border in Jammu, BSF personnel continued their search operation on Sunday for the second day, in and around Jajowal village, falling within the jurisdiction of Border Out Posts (BOPs) Chakroi and Jugnuchak, in R S Pura sector.
Searches were launched on Saturday evening after the BSF personnel detected the movement of a drone emerging from Pakistan.
