Kishtwar, Jan 19: An encounter between security forces and terrorists has entered in day two on Monday, as security forces intensified search operation in dense forests of Son Nar, northeast of Chhatru in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar.

Taking to micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter), Army’s White Knight Corps said: “Operations under Operation Trashi-I continue in the general area of Son Nar, northeast of Chhatru. The cordon has been further tightened with search operations expanded”.

“Troops of White Knight Corps, along with Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF, remain deployed to dominate the area,” Army added.

As per reports, eight forces personnel injured during initial exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists in the encounter on Sunday.

An official said that all injured forces personnel were evacuated to Army hospital for treatment, however one of the injured identified as Havaldar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces succumbed to his injuries.

He said the operation is still underway, with security forces maintaining a tight cordon in the area to neutralise any remaining threats.

Advanced surveillance equipment, including drones, and sniffer dogs have been deployed to speed up the operation.

Operations have been further intensified in the run-up to the Republic Day to ensure peaceful celebrations, amid intelligence inputs about desperate attempts by Pakistan-based handlers to push more terrorists, they said.

Meanwhile, the security forces busted a terrorist hideout during an ongoing search operation in the forest area of Chhatru in Kishtwar district on Monday.

Srinagar, Jan 19: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss various matters concerning the Union Territory.

In a post on X, the office of the Chief Minister said that Omar Abdullah met the Home Minister in New Delhi today.

It said the Chief Minister discussed several issues and matters related to Jammu and Kashmir with Amit Shah. —(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 19: An army soldier was killed and several others injured in an encounter in the Kishtwar area of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said today.

“The #GOC, White Knight Corps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces, who made the supreme sacrifice while gallantly executing a Counter Terrorism operation in the Singpura area during the ongoing Operation TRASHI-I on the night of 19 Jan 2026,” said the army, in a post on X.

“We honour his indomitable courage, valour and selfless devotion to duty and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of profound grief.”

After a night-long halt, security forces resumed their search operation on Monday to track down terrorists believed to be hiding in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, officials said.

The operation was launched in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt on Sunday, leading to a gunfight that left eight soldiers injured, primarily due to splinter injuries caused by a sudden grenade attack from the hiding terrorists.

The operation was suspended late Sunday night in the challenging terrain marked by thick vegetation and steep slopes, limiting visibility and movement, officials said.

Multiple teams of the army, police, and paramilitary forces, supported by drones and sniffer dogs, are combing the area while maintaining a tight security cordon to ensure that the terrorists are not able to escape, the officials said.

A group of two to three terrorists allegedly affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) are believed to be trapped in the area, officials said, adding the operation resumed with the first light of the day and was ongoing when the last reports were received.

Officials informed that there was no fresh contact with the terrorists.

Jammu, Jan 19: Army helicopters were pressed into service as security forces on Monday resumed a search and cordon operation in Kishtwar district to track down a group of terrorists believed to be hiding in the upper reaches of the area, officials said.

The operation, launched on Sunday in the Sonnar village area near Mandral–Singhpora in the Chatroo sector, was suspended late Sunday night due to difficult terrain and poor visibility.

Officials said the operation had escalated into an exchange of fire during the initial contact, in which eight security personnel sustained injuries after terrorists hurled a grenade.

The injured personnel were shifted to hospital for treatment.

With first light, joint teams of the Army, police and paramilitary forces resumed the operation and tightened the cordon to prevent any escape, officials said.

Drones and sniffer dogs are being used to comb the densely forested area, while Army helicopters are conducting sorties to maintain aerial surveillance over the operation zone.

According to intelligence inputs, two to three terrorists, suspected to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), are believed to be trapped in the area.

Officials said there had been no fresh contact with the terrorists since Sunday’s exchange of fire.

The operation was continuing, officials added. (KNS).