A fierce gun battle erupted between security forces and terrorists in the dense forests of Billawar, located in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, on Wednesday. The confrontation began after locals reported suspicious activity in the area.
Operation Launched on Local Tip-Off
The incident unfolded around 4 pm on Wednesday when residents of the Kamad Nallah area alerted authorities about spotting a suspected terrorist. Acting swiftly on this intelligence, a joint team comprising the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Kathua and CRPF personnel rushed to the scene. They immediately launched an extensive search and cordon operation in the challenging, forested terrain.
As the security teams closed in, the holed-up militants opened fire on the search party, triggering a full-blown encounter. Officials reported that the terrorists, estimated to be two or three in number, used the thick vegetation as cover and fled deeper into the forest as the exchange of fire intensified.
Forces Persist Despite Difficult Conditions
In a post on social media platform X, Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone) Bhim Sen Tuti confirmed that the troops were relentlessly engaging the terrorists. He highlighted the operational hurdles, stating the forces were battling "darkness, thick vegetation and treacherous terrain" to neutralize the threat. The area remained tightly cordoned off, and the operation was still in progress late into Wednesday night.
A Pattern of Vigilance in Jammu Region
This encounter is part of a sustained series of counter-terror operations across the Jammu region. Earlier this month, on January 2, a Village Defence Guard (VDG) in Dessa village of Doda district fired warning shots upon noticing suspicious movement near his house, prompting a security sweep.
Similarly, on December 31, 2025, a VDG's alert about suspicious movement led to an operation in Dali village within Rajouri district's Kalakote area. Security forces have been actively conducting missions in the upper reaches of Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts in the Chenab region, as well as along the border areas of Udhampur and Kathua districts, to track down terrorists on the move.
Such proactive operations continue in the frontier districts of Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi. Reasi district shares borders with both Rajouri-Ramban in the Jammu division and Kulgam in south Kashmir, making it a sensitive and active zone for security forces.
