The operation, launched on Sunday in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt, was temporarily halted overnight due to difficult terrain, thick vegetation and poor visibility. The action resumed at first light with intensified efforts.
During the initial operation, a brief gunfight broke out after terrorists lobbed a grenade, leaving eight soldiers injured, mostly due to splinter injuries. No fresh contact with the terrorists was reported on Monday.
Joint teams of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary forces, supported by drones and sniffer dogs, have established a tight security cordon to prevent the militants from escaping. Officials said two to three terrorists, suspected to be affiliated with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), are believed to be trapped in the area.
The operation, codenamed Operation Trashi-I, is being led by the Army’s White Knight Corps, which said additional forces have been inducted to strengthen the cordon amid challenging terrain.
This marks the third encounter with terrorists in the Jammu region this year, following earlier clashes in Kathua district. Security forces remain on high alert as the operation continues.
