Jammu, Jan 23: Security forces on Friday killed a terrorist, affiliated to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad in a precision strike during a joint counter terrorist operation in Parhetar area of Billawar in Kathua district.
The joint operation, according to officials, was launched following a specific intelligence input. During the cordon and search operation, the contact was established and one terrorist was neutralised on Friday evening.
Indian Army’s Rising Star Corps, while confirming the elimination of a terrorist, said that the cordon and search operation continued in the area.
“Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation was launched by Army and Police on January 23, 2026 in the general area Parhetar, in Kathua. Area was cordoned and contact established. In a precise strike by the joint forces, 1 foreign terrorist has been eliminated. Search operations are continuing,” Rising Star Corps posted on its ‘X’ handle.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu zone Bhim Sen Tuti, while sharing the information with the identity of the slain ultra, on his ‘X’ handle, stated that he was a Pakistani Jaish terrorist.
“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 posted.
Meanwhile, intensive search operation continued on Friday also in Chhatru area of Kishwar district, with the cordon further strengthened to hunt down terrorists hiding in treacherous heights.
The security forces had re-established contact and exchanged gunfire on Thursday in Singhpora forests, in the vicinity of Son-Nar stretch, which witnessed fierce gunfight on January 18, 2026.
Additional deployment of troops is in place in the area, well equipped with advanced surveillance equipment, drones and dog squad, to strengthen the cordon amid un-relenting searches ongoing since January 18, 2026.
Senior officers of Army, Police and other central agencies are monitoring the counter terrorist operation to trace and neutralise the holed-up terrorists in the dense forests despite inclement weather conditions.
The gunfight on January 18 erupted after the security forces came under heavy fire and grenade attack by a group of two to three terrorists, believed to be affiliated to Jaish-e-Mohammad, during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Son Nar forest stretch.
Eight soldiers sustained injuries in the grenade attack by the terrorists, out of whom one paratrooper – Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces succumbed to his injuries.
