Early Times Report
Jammu, July 24: Security forces in the Jammu region are overhauling their operational tactics to address the persistent challenge of terrorists escaping after encounters, particularly in the districts of Kishtwar, Doda, and Udhampur.
The move comes in response to a series of incidents where terrorists, including those affiliated with groups like Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad, have evaded capture in the region’s rugged terrain, exploiting dense forests and high-altitude areas south of the Pir Panjal range.
Recent encounters, such as those in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar and Basantgarh in Udhampur, have highlighted the difficulty of neutralizing fleeing terrorists.
Official sources report that approximately 15 to 20 terrorists, with nearly 80% being Pakistani nationals, are active in the region, operating in small, mobile groups. These terrorists have repeatedly managed to slip through cordons, as seen in a recent operation in Kishtwar’s Khankoo forest, where a brief gunfight ended with terrorists escaping under cover of dense foliage.
To counter this, security forces, including the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF, are implementing a multi-pronged strategy.
Forces to intensify night surveillance using advanced night vision devices and thermal imaging to track terrorist movements in low-visibility conditions.
Increased use of drones and sniffer dogs to scour challenging terrains, such as the dense forests of Kishtwar and Doda, for hidden terrorists.
Additional troops have been deployed to dominate strategic high-altitude areas, making it harder for terrorists to find safe havens. Joint operations, like the ongoing efforts in Kishtwar’s Dachhan-Nagseni area, aim to maintain continuous pressure.
Ground-level intelligence is being prioritized to preempt terrorist movements, with forces acting on specific inputs to disrupt planned attacks.
“Forces are tightening the noose. The terrorists are finding it increasingly difficult to move, and we are adapting our tactics to ensure they cannot exploit the terrain to escape”, sources said.
This follows incidents like the April 2025 encounter in Udhampur’s Dudu-Basantgarh area, where three terrorists escaped during a firefight, prompting a multi-day search operation.
The revised strategy comes amid heightened security concerns, with recent intelligence indicating that 20 Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists are active in Udhampur, Reasi, Doda, and Kishtwar, while 15–20 others operate in Rajouri and Poonch. The region has seen seven encounters in the Kathua-Udhampur-Kishtwar belt over the past month, resulting in the elimination of five terrorists but also the loss of five security personnel, underscoring the urgency of the new approach.
As security forces recalibrate their tactics, the focus remains on neutralizing the terrorist threat while minimizing casualties, with operations intensifying across the Jammu region’s challenging landscape. |
