Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 23: Despite three back-to-back encounters in different parts of Jammu over the past week, the first terrorist of 2026 was killed on Friday in a brief gunfight in the Billawar area of Kathua district.
The slain militant is believed to be a Pakistani national and part of a group of terrorists that was spotted in the area last week.
“A Pakistani Jaish terrorist has been neutralised by a small JKP team in a joint operation with the Army and CRPF in the general area of Billawar, Kathua district,” IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti posted on his official social media handle.
The Army’s Rising Star Corps also confirmed that one foreign terrorist was eliminated during a joint operation in Kathua district.
“Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation was launched by the Army, Police and CRPF on January 23, 2026, in the general area of Parhetar in Kathua. The area was cordoned off and contact was established. In a precise strike by the joint forces, one foreign terrorist has been eliminated. Search operations are continuing,” the Rising Star Corps said in a post on its official social media handle.
It is pertinent to mention that three hideouts of the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror outfit were busted by police and other security forces in Kathua district last week.
Acting on intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the forest areas of Kamaad Nallah, Kalaban and Dhanu Parole in the Billawar belt, joint teams had launched extensive search operations.
During these operations, terrorists opened fire on the security forces, triggering exchanges of fire that continued through the night.
Police said two empty M4 cartridges, a plastic box containing desi ghee, a polythene packet of almonds, gloves, a cap, a blanket, a tarpaulin sheet, a small pouch and a polythene bag were recovered from the first hideout.
From the other two hideouts, security forces recovered a cooking gas cylinder, cooking oil, charger wire, gloves, cooking and eating utensils, an empty oil gallon, large plastic bags, a torch, blankets, a container and wrappers of eatables, among other miscellaneous items, police said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua, Mohita Sharma, confirmed that the search operation in the area is still underway.
Sources said a group of Pakistani terrorists affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit is believed to be moving in the forest belt of Billawar. |