Operation resumes in Kathua to track down terrorists; one security person injured

Security forces resumed the search operation on Thursday morning (January 8, 2026) to track down terrorists hiding in a forest in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, where a security guard was slightly injured.

Joint action by J&K Police Special Operations Group (SOG) and other security forces was launched on Wednesday evening, January 7, 2026, in Billawar’s Kaog village and resulted in an encounter, officials said.

“The search operation to track down the hiding terrorists has been restarted after a night-long cordon,” a senior security official said.

The searches are being carried out in Dhanu Parole-Kamadh nallah area. It was stated that additional forces were also called in, in addition to aerial surveillance, to detect terrorists hiding in the dense forest.

“Despite darkness, dense vegetation and dangerous terrain, SOG is relentlessly engaging terrorists. CRPF teams are also participating in the joint operation,” Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP of Jammu District, said in a post on X.

Authorities said the gunfight in Kahog village broke out on Wednesday evening, January 7, 2026, after security forces launched a search operation based on information about the presence of two to three terrorists in the area.

During the conflict, a security guard was slightly injured as a result of a bullet hitting his leg. They said he was taken to the hospital.

“SOG engaged terrorists in Kamadh nallah, Kathua forest area,” the IGP said in another post on X.

According to officials, the clash between the two sides lasted for more than an hour until the guns fell silent. Officials said it is not yet known whether any terrorists were shot in the conflict.

The Army, BSF, police and CRPF have been continuously conducting search operations for the last one month, identifying border residents and intensifying patrols along the International Border in Samba and Kathua districts and adjoining areas of Punjab, officials said.

A multi-layered security network comprising BSF, border police and Village Defense Guards (VDGs) has been put on alert ahead of Republic Day on January 26.

Kathua district has witnessed multiple encounters between security forces and terrorists in the last two years, resulting in the killing of 16 people, including 11 security personnel and 5 terrorists.

Authorities said that 7 security personnel and 2 militants were killed in 2024, when terrorists started operating in the district again after more than 10 years, and 7 people, including 4 security personnel and 3 terrorists, were killed in 2023.

Additionally, four civilians lost their lives under mysterious circumstances, and local people suspected that terrorists were involved in these murders.