Pakistan—based JeM terrorist shot dead in encounter in J&K

A Pakistani terrorist affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.

Inspector General of Police, Jammu range, Bhim Sen Tuti, said the terrorist was gunned down during a joint operation in the general area of Billawar.

Rising Star Corps in a post on X said, “Acting on specific intelligence inputs, Joint Operation was launched by the Army and Police on 23 Jan 26 in the general area Parhetar, Kathua. The area was cordoned, and the contact was established. In a precise strike by the joint forces, one foreign terrorist has been eliminated. Search operations are continuing”.

Officials identified the deceased terrorist as JeM commander Usman and said a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including an M4 automatic rifle, were recovered from him.

In Srinagar, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir range, VK Birdi said multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place across the valley to ensure peaceful Republic Day celebrations.

“Multi-layered security arrangements are in place in the valley and especially in Srinagar. The Jammu and Kashmir Police, its security wing, and paramilitary forces have tightened the whole security grid,” he told reporters after paying tributes to the martyrs at the Balidan Stambh. Northern Army commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma also chaired an inter-agency core group security review meeting in Srinagar, with a focus on enhancing joint operations and strengthening coordination among various security agencies in Kashmir, the Army said on Friday.

“Lt Gen Pratik Sharma chaired a Core Group Security Review meeting at Srinagar with senior officials of the Army, police, CRPF and other security agencies,” the Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said ina post on X.