The fierce encounter between a group of heavily armed foreign terrorists and a joint team of security forces in which four policemen sacrificed their lives in the Juthana area of Rajbagh, Kathua, has once again brought the spotlight on the lapses along the International border of Jammu frontier.
It is learnt that the Indian Army has also flagged the issue at the highest level, seeking to plug the gaps and foil the infiltration bids by enhancing the vigil with the aid of technical surveillance. Some of the veteran commanders who remained at the helm of affairs in the Northern Command headquarters have also proposed to carry out a fresh ‘security audit’ along the Jammu frontier to further beef up the security grid in the absence of a counter-infiltration grid in the region.
As per the preliminary assessment of various security agencies, it is believed the terrorists infiltrated on Saturday, possibly via a ravine route or a newly constructed tunnel from across the border, before they were spotted by a couple in the Sanyal village of Hiranagar on March 23.
Meanwhile, the ongoing operation in the forested area of Juthana continued for the second day in succession. The joint teams of security forces carried out massive searches in the area to retrieve the dead bodies of four policemen from inside the forest area. Late evening, the dead bodies of three policemen identified as Tariq Ahmad of Reasi, Jaswant Singh of Londi, Hiranagar and Balwinder Singh of Kana Chak, Kathua, were dispatched to their native places after a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the District police lines, Kathua. SgCt Balwinder Singh Chib of Kana Chak, Kathua, becomes the fourth generation martyr of the family. Before him, his paternal uncles had sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.
Briefing media persons for the first time after the encounter broke out on Thursday morning, Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Nalin Prabhat said that two foreign terrorists have
been gunned down by the joint team of security forces, while a total of four policemen sacrificed their lives in the ongoing operation. DGP said the operation was still going on in the area and expressed hope that the joint team of forces would be able to clear the area in the next 24 hours.
Briefing media persons, DGP Nalin Prabhat said, after a group of five
terrorists were first detected on March 23, 2025, in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua
by a couple in a forest, the terrorist groups were subsequently detected on multiple occasions by villagers as they made their way towards the upper reaches of Kathua.
The jawans of the J&K Police or the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Police were chasing them along with the army, BSF, and central paramilitary forces. DGP said the terrorists were moving through the forest area towards the Billawar side when a police party headed by an SDPO moved in after getting specific information, but came under heavy firing, resulting in a day-long gunfight.
Reinforcements from the police, army, and CRPF were immediately deployed to the area, while the special forces of the army were also airdropped to neutralise the terrorists.
Earlier, on 28 Feb 2007 a joint team of security forces had gunned down Abu Talha, a ‘district commander’ of the LeT, who was plotting fidayeen (suicide) attacks at Governor’s House and State Legislators hostel in Jammu, in an encounter at village Safian in foothills of Bala Sundri temple under Billawar police station jurisdiction in the Kathua district. Abu Talha was a Pakistani national operating in Doda, Bhadarwah and Basantgarh. While two of his accomplices, Naseer Ahmed alias Bittu alias Raju and Lateef Bakerwal, were arrested, one police constable was injured in the encounter.
Earlier, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also paid tributes to the fallen soldiers. “I bow to the valorous martyrs of J&K Police, who laid down their lives for our motherland. My deepest condolences to their families. In the ongoing Kathua encounter, several terrorists were neutralised. J&K Police & Security Forces are on the job. Operation in progress”.
In his condolence message, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “Pride and grief intertwine as we remember Balwinder Singh Chib, Jaswant Singh, and Tariq Ahmed, who laid down their lives during an anti-terror operation in Kathua, Jammu & Kashmir. My heartfelt condolences to their families. Their sacrifice in the line of duty will always be remembered. May the departed souls rest in peace, and heartfelt prayers for the swift recovery of those injured”.
Given recent terror incidents and the upcoming Eid and Navratri festivals, security has also been beefed up in Jammu city and along the highways, with increased vehicle checks and frisking of people.
Meanwhile, a separate search operation was launched following reports of the movement of suspected individuals in the neighboring district of Reasi.
Backed by surveillance equipment, the operation was underway to comb the dense terrain and track down any potential threats, the officials said.
Given the heightened threat, elaborate security arrangements, including AI-enabled CCTV cameras and drones, are being put in place to avert any untoward incident at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine during the Navratri festival.
Chaitra (spring) Navratra will commence on March 30 and authorities are anticipating a large crowd of devotees thronging the cave shrine during the nine-day festival.
Conducting a security audit of Katra, the base camp of the cave shrine, Reasi SSP Paramvir Singh said, “Security has been significantly strengthened…(we) assure all devotees arriving from various parts of the country that they will be provided with adequate security.”
“We have conducted security checks at several locations in Katra town and are planning additional deployments at strategic locations,” he added.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Rayees Mohd Bhat said thorough security arrangements have been made, including the deployment of drones, as part of the security measures.
Moreover, the track leading to the shrine is being closely watched by the CRPF.
Officials said that over 500-600 CCTV cameras equipped with advanced AI capabilities have been installed along the pilgrimage route.
Nearly 40,000 pilgrims visit the Mata Vaishno Devi temple daily, with numbers rising even further on weekends,” said Anshul Garg, chief executive officer (CEO), SMVDSB. He further said that the number is expected to only rise in the coming days.