Two Kathua terrorists spotted in Udhampur; search ops continue.  

Two heavily armed terrorists, suspected to be part of the group involved in recent encounters in Kathua, have been spotted in Udhampur district, prompting an extensive search operation by security forces to eliminate them. According to sources, the terrorists entered a house in the Majalta area, which borders Kathua, on Wednesday evening. They took away food prepared for the family and a mobile phone before leaving. The mobile has remained switched off since then.

Since March 23, three encounters have taken place in Kathua. The first gunfight erupted at Sanyal village, Hiranagar, after a woman spotted at least five terrorists and alerted the police. A second encounter occurred in Ghati Juthana on Thursday, where four policemen lost their lives and two terrorists were gunned down. During the third encounter in Panjtirthi, Kathua, on Monday (March 31), the ultras managed to escape through dense forest terrain and have now surfaced in Udhampur. Officials suspect the ultras may have received assistance from a terror associate or an Over Ground Worker (OGW) to navigate through the difficult terrain.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Udhampur-Reasi range, Rayees Mohammad Bhat, confirmed that local residents had sighted two suspicious individuals. “The area where the suspects were seen is close to Kathua, and security had already been heightened following an encounter there,” he stated. Additional forces have been deployed in the forests, and a search is ongoing.

The ultras are believed to be armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles and US-made M4 carbines. Intelligence reports suggest they are of Pakistani origin and highly trained in jungle warfare, allowing them to repeatedly escape security forces.

In response to the continued terror threat, multiple search operations are underway in Billawar, Bhaddu, Ghatti, and Kog-Mandli areas of Kathua. So far, over 27 individuals have been questioned to gather intelligence on terrorist movements. Security measures have also been intensified in Doda, Kishtwar and Reasi districts to prevent the ultras from moving deeper into the region.

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Courtesy:   The Tribune -2025-04-04