Op Sheruwali: Troops target terrorist hideouts in J&K

As the anti-terrorist operation Sheruwali entered its fourth day, joint teams of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group, and paramilitary forces on Tuesday launched a fresh assault to smoke out foreign terrorists hiding in natural cave-like structures in the dense Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla forest belt of Rajouri.

Since the first contact on May 23, security forces have been relentlessly combing the thickly vegetated terrain in pursuit of the fleeing terrorists.

The Indian Army has also deployed helicopters to carry out aerial reconnaissance, besides relying on drone images and sniffer dogs to track down the footprints of terrorists on the run.

Joint teams of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and paramilitary forces have also expanded the scope of extensive searches in the adjoining areas to prevent their escape.

According to ground reports, the security forces on Tuesday targeted suspected hideouts of the terrorists to neutralise them. Till late evening, there was no official confirmation about the outcome of the fire assault. The Indian Army had mobilised additional troops in the area to strengthen the cordon in the outer area further and prevent the terrorists from breaching the outer cordon. 

According to local media reports, heavy gunfire and explosions were reported from the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla forest belt of Rajouri district, amid an ongoing operation in the area. Thick smoke was seen billowing out after the suspected hideouts were targeted inside the forest.

Security forces are also tracking blood stains believed to have been left behind by the fleeing terrorists after a hideout was destroyed during an assault carried out on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, on Tuesday reviewed security arrangements for Eid-ul-Azha and Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of the J-K Police, CRPF, ITBP, traffic police, railways and various security agencies, a police spokesman said.

“The DGP chaired a meeting at Police Control Room Kashmir to review security arrangements for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha and Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026 (SANJY-2026) at PCR Kashmir,” the spokesman said.

Emphasising the importance of peaceful Eid celebrations, Prabhat directed the officers to ensure comprehensive crowd management arrangements at mosques and key congregation venues across the Valley.

The DGP stressed the need for strengthening security measures, safeguarding public movement and deploying personnel at sensitive locations to prevent overcrowding.

He instructed field officers to enhance surveillance, carry out random inspections at vulnerable areas and intensify patrolling to effectively address any potential security concerns during the festive occasion.

During the meeting, the participating officers presented detailed briefings on the proposed security and logistical arrangements as well as preparedness measures for the smooth conduct of SANJY-2026.

Officers from the paramilitary and other security forces also shared their assessments and underscored the need for seamless coordination and synergy among all agencies involved.

The officers briefed the DGP regarding the administrative and logistical arrangements made for the incoming Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies.