Massive anti-terror operations underway in Pir Panchal, other areas of Jammu

Srinagar, Nov 27: Massive operations to track down the terrorists and their sympathisers has been going on at scores of places in Jammu division for the last three days.

Some have been detained and over 20 suspects are being questioned. The operations were started on Monday when Doda -Kishtwar Range of Police launched operations at 40 places in backdrop of recent terror related incidents. Since then the operations are underway at around 50 places.

The operations were launched by joint teams of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army, and paramilitary forces across the upper reaches, foothill habitations, and residential areas in districts including Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, and Udhampur.

Earlier, in the second week of the ongoing month two village defence guards (VDGs) were abducted and later killed by terrorists in Kishtwar district. Two days after the killing of the two VDGs , a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army was killed, while three other commandos were injured in an encounter with terrorists in a remote forest area in Kishtwar district.

Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (Special Forces) was killed while three other commandos were injured in the gunfight that broke out onNovember 10, in Kishtwar's Bhart Ridge area.

“We are questioning over 20 people identified during the searches. These are suspected individuals. Some of them have been detained, and investigations are ongoing,” a senior official from the Zonal Police Headquarters Jammu told Greater Kashmir on Wednesday.

“The operations aim to dismantle networks of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) providing logistical support to terrorist outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT),” he said.

On Wednesday massive operations were launched in Chattru in Kishtwar and Desa in Doda to track down terrorists. “We are leaving no stone unturned to dismantle the terror infrastructure and ensure the safety of citizens,” the senior official said.

This renewed offensive comes amid broader efforts to curb terrorism in Jammu division, with authorities determined to maintain the region's hard-won stability.

Officials said that the operations involve combing through dense forested areas, conducting house-to-house searches in sensitive areas, and deploying drones for aerial surveillance. Special focus has been placed on tracking movement along the Line of Control (LoC) to intercept infiltration attempts, they said.

“This is a collective fight to ensure peace and security. The public’s role in identifying and isolating anti-national elements is critical,” senior Army officials of Udhampur based northern Command said.

They said that anti-terror operations and heightened security measures come in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in Kishtwar and earlier at other places, including targeted assaults on security forces and civilians. “These incidents have underscored the persistent threat posed by terrorists attempting to revive terrorism in Jammu, particularly in the Pir Panjal areas,” they added.

On Tuesday evening Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu, Anand Jain in a post on X confirmed some arrests. “J&K Police conducted extensive raids across multiple districts in the Jammu region, targeting OGWs and terror suspects linked to proscribed outfits like JeM and LeT. Arrests have been made, and incriminating materials recovered. Investigations are ongoing to ensure peace in the region,” he said in post on X.