Elite commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) on Monday joined the massive combing and search operations in the Sanyal village of Hiranagar in Kathua district after the security forces recovered a large quantity of material, including several magazines of M-4 carbine, packed food, energy bars and a bulletproof jacket.

The anti-terrorist operation, which was launched on Sunday evening after an alarm was raised by a couple to neutralise the terrorists, could not achieve any headway in the absence of any fresh engagement with the group of terrorists during the day.

Local reports claimed after the initial contact was made with the terrorists on Sunday evening the operation was halted during the Sunday night.

Meanwhile, the security forces on Monday rushed additional troops to intensify the search operations in the general area of Hiranagar to plug the escape routes. The security grid along the Jammu-Pathankot highway was also tightened and quick reaction teams of the Indian Army and Special Operations group of J and K police maintained area domination to prevent any strike.

Official sources claimed the local police authorities are also maintaining a tight vigil on the activities of the active over-ground workers in the region to gather vital clues about the presence of the group of terrorists who may have managed to establish contact with their local handler to reach their safe hideout.

According to eyewitnesses, “On Sunday when these terrorists first came face to face with a farmer couple in the forested area of Sanyal village, they were seeking their help instead of targeting them”. The brave middle-aged woman managed to escape to safety as one of the terrorists, who followed her, avoided targeting her, to ensure the security forces were not alerted in real-time thereby giving them enough time to flee the area without facing any roadblocks.

According to ground reports, the security forces Monday carried out air surveillance using helicopters and also deployed drones, and sniffer dogs to track down the footprints of terrorists. Senior army and police officers also remained stationed on ground zero to boost the morale of the security forces. DGP J and K Police Nalin Prabhat was also seen participating in the search operations along with the foot soldiers. According to a recent assessment made during the security review meetings, Kathua district has emerged as a major infiltrating route for Pakistan-based terrorists to reach the higher reaches of Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar districts and further to Kashmir, over the past year.

After carrying out deadly attacks in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch over the past four years, terror activities spread to six other districts in the Jammu region in 2024, leaving 44 people, including 18 security personnel and 13 terrorists, dead.

Though the Pir Panjal districts of Rajouri and Poonch witnessed a considerable drop in terror activities in 2024 as compared to the previous years, the series of incidents in Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Kathua, Udhampur and Jammu from April-May onwards last year became a concern for the security agencies.

According to official data, nine people were killed in Doda, Kathua and Reasi districts, five in Kishtwar, four in Udhampur, three each in Jammu and Rajouri, and two in Poonch in 2024. Those killed included 18 security personnel and 13 terrorists.

This year, Kathua was also rocked by protests after the mysterious death of five people in the remote Billawar tehsil.

Bodies of 15-year-old Varun Singh, his paternal uncle Yogesh Singh, 32, and maternal uncle Darshan Singh, 40, were found in the Ishu nullah in the remote Malhar area in the higher reaches of Kathua on March 8. They had gone missing on March 5 while attending a wedding.

On February 16, Shamsher, 37 and Roshan, 45, were found dead in Kohag village in Billawar. Post-mortem revealed they were strangled.

In Kashmir valley, Security forces Monday busted a terrorist hideout in the forest area of Anantnag district.

Acting on a tip-off, the security forces launched a search operation in Sungalan forests of Anantnag on Sunday.

During the searches, they said, the terrorist hideout was busted and a cache of arms, ammunition and other war-like stores were recovered from the spot.

In Jammu, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said his government is extending support to the Union Home Ministry to ensure the security situation remains peaceful in the union territory.

“Though it (security) is directly not our responsibility, I am repeatedly saying that militancy cannot be finished without the support of the people. The elected government is making attempts and is supporting (Lt Governor) to keep the situation under control and maintain peace,” the chief minister told reporters outside the assembly before the start of the day’s business.

He was responding to a question on the ongoing anti-terrorist operation in Sanyal near the International border in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district. “Such things have happened in the past as well and as far as my information is concerned, no contact was established (with terrorists). The search and cordon operation launched based on suspicious movement is going on and let us see how the situation develops,” Abdullah said.

He said the operation is taking place in a border village and they may have come from across the border. “Making any statement on this right away will be premature. Let us see how the situation develops,” he said.