Operation Trashi, a high-stakes counter-terrorism operation in the Chatroo region of Kishtwar district, has entered its sixth consecutive day. Additional troops and elite Para Commandos have been deployed to support the ongoing efforts to locate and neutralize a group of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists believed to be holed up in the dense and rugged forest terrain.
The operation commenced on May 22 in the Singhpora area and has since progressed into the adjoining Chatroo forest belt. Security forces estimate that three to four militants, including a known operative named Saifullah, are trapped within the cordoned zone. These individuals are believed to be part of a group that previously escaped during an earlier encounter.
So far, the operation has resulted in the elimination of two terrorists. However, the mission has come at a cost, with a District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan losing his life to an IED blast on the eve of the initial confrontation. On the first day of the gunfight, Sepoy Pandurang of the 17th Rashtriya Rifles was also martyred in action.
Security has been tightened around the encounter site with troops from the Army’s 11 Rashtriya Rifles, 7th Assam Rifles, two Para Special Forces units, and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Kishtwar sealing off all possible escape routes. Senior law enforcement and military officials, including Kishtwar SSP, IGP (Jammu Zone) Bhim Sen Tuti, and DIG Shridhar Patil, are monitoring the situation from the ground.
The Director General of Police has praised the personnel involved, acknowledging their bravery and reaffirming the commitment of security forces to sustaining counter-terrorism operations to secure long-term peace in the region.
Para Commandos, who were airdropped into the operational zone, have brought specialized capabilities in counter-insurgency, reconnaissance, and high-risk assault tactics. Their deployment underscores the gravity of the mission. These elite units of the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment have a distinguished legacy, dating back to World War II, and have played critical roles in past conflicts including the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the Kargil conflict, and numerous anti-terror missions across the country.
Operation Trashi follows a major security success in Pulwama district last week, where three JeM terrorists were gunned down in the Nadir village of Tral. The sustained operations across Jammu and Kashmir reflect an intensified effort to root out terrorism and restore lasting stability in the region.
