An encounter broke out between the joint team of security forces and a heavily armed group of terrorists in the Sanyal area of Hiranagar in the Kathua district late on Sunday evening after a local couple raised a timely alarm alerting the security forces about the suspicious movement of armed terrorists in the border area.

Initial reports claimed a group of 5 to 6 terrorists may have infiltrated recently from across the International border with Pakistan to carry out a terrorist strike.

Quick reaction teams of the Indian Army, Jawans of the Special Operations group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and BSF personnel have been mobilised to neutralise the terrorists.

Till the time of filing the report, a heavy exchange of gunfire was going on in the area. Senior police and army officers were rushed to the encounter site while DGP J and K Police Nalin Prabhat was seen personally monitoring the anti-terrorist operations. Local reports claimed the heavily armed terrorists, dressed in tracksuits, were spotted in the Sanyal village by a couple around 4.50 pm while they were moving towards their agricultural fields in the forward area. Security forces were already on high alert following alerts issued by the intelligence agencies about possible infiltration attempts in the region.

Late night, Rising Star Corps in a post on X said, “Based on Intelligence Input regarding the presence of terrorists, a Joint Operation has been launched by Jammu and Kashmir police & troops of Rising Star Corps on 23 Mar 25 in the general area of Sanyal, Hiranagar. Operations in Progress”.

The security forces on ground zero have cordoned off the entire area after additional troops were rushed to the area. According to reports, the group of terrorists had taken shelter inside the thickly forested area of a cliff in Sanyal village. The security forces were exercising restraint to avoid any collateral damage. The local civilians in the area were advised to stay indoors to prevent any injury during the exchange of firing. Briefing media, a local woman who first came face to face with the terrorists, told reporters, “While I was moving in the fields along with my husband to gather firewood, two terrorists hiding in the area stopped us”.

The woman further revealed, “The terrorists caught hold of my husband and held him hostage. I pleaded before them to release my husband without causing any physical harm to him”. “I also assured them, please let us go back. We will not raise an alarm. As I was requesting them my husband signalled me to run away”.

The local woman, whose identity had not been made public, also revealed as I started running back, one of the terrorists followed me but without caring for my safety I kept running away and crossed one field. “As I saw my brother-in-law, who was also working in the nearby fields, I raised an alarm and informed them about the terrorists”.

After some time, my husband also came running as he was directed by the terrorists to bring me back. Soon after, a few more people gathered there and we informed the security forces about the presence of terrorists in the area”. She claimed a group of five terrorists were present in the area and were carrying 'bags'.

Chronology of Terror attacks in Hiranagar

On March 20, 2015 a heavily armed group of fidayeen (members of a suicide squad), dressed in combat uniform, had stormed the Rajbagh police station, 15 kms away from the International border, in the Kathua district of Jammu region. Three security personnel, including two CRPF Jawans, sacrificed their lives before neutralising the two fidayeen in a five-hour-long operation that had converted the police station complex into a virtual war zone.

Two civilians were also killed by the fidayeen while 10 others including a DySP of J&K police were injured in the fierce gunfight which erupted around 6.20 am and ended past noon.

On 28 March 2014, an army jawan and two civilians were killed and four others were injured, two of them critically, by a group of three heavily armed 'fidayeens' (members of a suicide squad) in an audacious twin terror strike on the Jammu-Pathankot National highway.

On September 26, 2013, terrorists targeted the Hiranagar police station and Samba garrison, 12 people including a senior army officer were killed.