3 policemen, 2 terrorists killed in encounter in J&K’s Kathua

Mangalore Today News Network

Srinagar, March 28, 2025: At least five persons, including three policemen and two terrorists, were killed in a fresh gunfight that erupted on Thursday in the Juthana area of Kathua district, Jammu, as a major anti-terrorism operation continued in the area for the fifth consecutive day.

A few policemen, including a deputy superintendent of police - Dheeraj Katoch - and one Para Commando, were also injured in the fierce gun battle that began early in the morning when security forces spotted terrorists near Jakhole village in Ghati Juthana, located around 30 kilometers from the site of Sunday’s encounter in the Hiranagar sector.

The critically injured security personnel have been evacuated to Army hospitals in Udhampur and Pathankot. Police suspect the terrorists infiltrated on Saturday, potentially using a ravine or a newly constructed tunnel from across the border.

The firefight involved the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), assisted by the Army, Border Security Force (BSF), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The gun fight took place near a rivulet, hidden by dense foliage, reports said.

Reinforcements were rushed to the spot, and at the time of the latest updates, the exchange of fire between the security forces and terrorists was still ongoing. A full picture of the situation will emerge once the encounter concludes, an official said.

Sources said that the terrorists involved in Thursday’s clash are likely part of the same group that had escaped during Sunday’s gun battle in Hiranagar. The ongoing operation, now in its fifth day, continues to present significant challenges for security forces. To assist in locating and neutralizing the terrorists, commandos, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and sniffer dogs have been deployed.

Jammu and Kashmir Police Director General Nalin Prabhat has been present in Kathua, leading the operation alongside Jammu Zone Inspector General of Police Bhim Sen Tuti. Authorities have also heightened security along the Jammu-Pathankot national highway in the Samba-Kathua section, responding to fresh intelligence suggesting infiltration across the International Border (IB).

The IB in Kathua district has become a significant infiltration route for Pakistan-based terrorists, allowing them to access the higher reaches of the Kailash tri-junction, which connects Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar districts, and ultimately leads into Kashmir.