Major win for security forces: Pakistani JeM terrorist Usman killed in Kathua encounter

Jammu:

In a major breakthrough for counter-terrorism forces, a high-ranking Pakistani commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) insurgent group was killed on Friday in a fierce, close-quarters gunbattle in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The operative, identified as Usman, known by the alias "Abu Maviya," was neutralised during a joint operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Indian Army, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the remote Parhetar area of Billawar.

"A Pakistani Jaish terrorist has been neutralised by a small JKP team in a joint operation with the Army and CRPF in the general area of Billawar," Inspector General of Police (Jammu Range) Bhim Sen Tuti announced on the social media platform X.

Security forces recovered a significant cache of weaponry from the site, including an M4 automatic rifle and a large quantity of ammunition. The Army’s Rising Star Corps confirmed the precision strike in a separate statement, noting that the area was cordoned off following specific intelligence inputs.

A Long-Standing Target

Usman was described as one of the region’s most-wanted insurgents, having been active in the Udhampur-Kathua forest belts for several years after infiltrating from across the border. He had successfully evaded several previous encounters, including two earlier this month on Jan. 7 and Jan. 13 in the Kahog and Najote forests.

The final confrontation occurred when a search party raided a house where Usman was hiding. He opened fire on the approaching troops but was shot dead in the ensuing combat, which lasted only a few minutes.

Ongoing "Operation Trashi-I" in Kishtwar

While the encounter in Kathua concluded, a separate massive anti-terror offensive continued Friday for a sixth day in the Kishtwar district. Known as "Operation Trashi-I," the mission targets three additional JeM insurgents believed to be hiding in the rugged Chatroo forest belt.

The Kishtwar operation has faced gruelling conditions, including recent snowfall and thick vegetation. The offensive began Sunday, resulting in a grenade ambush that killed one Army paratrooper and injured seven soldiers. Though another brief contact with the insurgents occurred on Thursday, the group managed to escape into the dense woods.

Heightened Alert for Republic Day

The intensity of these operations comes as security is tightened across the Jammu region ahead of India’s Republic Day celebrations on Jan. 26.

Intelligence agencies have warned of desperate attempts by Pakistan-based handlers to infiltrate more terrorists into the region to disrupt national festivities. Since December, security forces have launched a coordinated campaign to flush out an estimated three dozen insurgents believed to be sheltering in the various forest belts of Jammu.

With inputs from PTI