National News: A fierce exchange of gunfire took place on Wednesday evening between security personnel and militants in the rugged and hard-to-access Chatru region of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. The confrontation occurred shortly after the initial batch of Amarnath pilgrims departed from Jammu, when intelligence agencies received reports of militant presence in the Kucchal area.
Upon receiving the alert, a joint unit comprising the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF swiftly initiated a combing operation in Kanjal Mandu, a forested part of the region. As the forces moved forward, they came under sudden gunfire from militants hiding in the area. The troops immediately retaliated, leading to a full-fledged encounter that is still underway.
Army Acknowledges Operation on Ground
In an official statement released via X (formerly Twitter), the White Knight Corps confirmed the operation: "Based on actionable intelligence regarding terrorist presence in the Kanjal Mandu region of Kishtwar, a joint operation is currently being carried out. Engagement continues on the ground."
Suspected Links to Jaish-e-Mohammed
Authorities believe that two to three heavily armed operatives, suspected to be linked to the banned terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, could be holed up in the vicinity. In response, security forces have cordoned off the area, deployed reinforcements, and declared a high-security alert across the district.
Amarnath Yatra Begins Amidst Multi-Layered Security
Earlier the same day, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first group of pilgrims from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu. These devotees are now en route to Baltal and Pahalgam, the designated access points to the Amarnath cave shrine, ahead of the official pilgrimage commencement on July 3.
Given the significance of the yatra and the ongoing threats, authorities have bolstered security across all major routes, especially along National Highway-44. Multiple layers of surveillance have been activated, including drone monitoring, deployment of Road Opening Parties (ROPs), CCTV installations, QRTs (Quick Reaction Teams), and strategically placed bunkers.
Pilgrims Reassured of Full Safety Measures
Security officials have urged pilgrims to proceed with confidence, assuring them that all preventive and protective steps have been taken to ensure their safety. Joint security deployments have been tasked with maintaining strict vigilance in all sensitive and potentially vulnerable zones along the route.
