Three terrorists linked to the banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district under Operation Trashi-I. The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps confirmed the development in a statement.

According to the Army, a joint operation was launched after receiving credible intelligence inputs. The inputs were gathered by the police and other intelligence agencies. Based on this information, teams of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) started a search operation in the area.

The encounter began in Passerkut in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district at around 10:30 am. Officials told news agency PTI that the teams had received information about the presence of two Pakistani terrorists linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad in the region.

As security forces moved closer to the suspected location, the terrorists, who were hiding inside a mud house at the foothills, opened fire. This led to a gunfight between the two sides. During the exchange of fire, the mud house caught fire. After the operation ended, the bodies of the three terrorists were found inside the burnt structure.

According to officials quoted by PTI, the bodies of all the slain terrorists were charred beyond recognition because the mud house they were hiding in caught fire during the gunfight. Security forces recovered two AK-47 rifles and other ammunition from the site of the encounter.

One of the terrorists killed has been identified as Saifullah, who was described as a notorious JeM commander. Hindustan Times has learnt that Saifullah was among those killed in the operation. He was reportedly active in the region for several years.

Saifullah had infiltrated Jammu and Kashmir nearly five years ago. Since then, he had been involved in carrying out attacks in the region. Officials said he was allegedly the mastermind behind several deadly attacks on security forces. One such attack took place in July 2024, in which four soldiers were killed.

Over the years, Saifullah had managed to escape from several encounters with security forces. However, this time he was neutralised during the joint operation in Kishtwar.

The Chatroo forest belt, where the encounter took place, has seen frequent gunfights in recent times. Last month alone, nearly six encounters were reported in the area between terrorists and security forces. In those incidents, one soldier and one terrorist were killed.

The Army’s White Knight Corps said the operation was conducted under Operation Trashi-I and was based on specific intelligence inputs. The joint effort by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army and the CRPF led to the elimination of the three terrorists.

The recovery of weapons, including two AK-47 rifles, indicates that the terrorists were heavily armed. Security forces are continuing search operations in the area to ensure that no other terrorists are present.

The encounter marks another major operation against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. With the killing of Saifullah, security forces have removed a key commander who had been active in the region for nearly five years and was allegedly behind multiple attacks on security personnel.