Kathua, March 24, 2025- A tense standoff between security forces and a group of heavily armed terrorists in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district has stretched into its second day, with the Director General of Police , Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat, and Inspector General of Police , Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, on-site to oversee operations. The encounter, which began late Sunday evening, March 23, 2025, followed reports of suspicious activity near Sanyal village, approximately four kilometers from the International Border with Pakistan.
Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team comprising the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), the Indian Army’s Rising Star Corps, and the Border Security Force (BSF) launched a search operation in a dense nursery area. The situation escalated when security forces engaged five to six terrorists believed to have infiltrated from across the border. A heavy exchange of gunfire ensued, with the terrorists taking cover in the thick foliage.
A seven-year-old girl, Anchal Kumari, was injured by a bullet splinter during the initial clash and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she is receiving treatment. No additional casualties have been reported as of Monday morning, though the operation remains ongoing. Security forces have cordoned off the area, deploying quick reaction teams to ensure the terrorists do not escape under the cover of darkness.
DGP Nalin Prabhat arrived at the scene late Sunday, joined by senior officials including DIG Jammu-Kathua Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, to coordinate the response. The Rising Star Corps confirmed the operation on social media, stating, “Based on intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists, a Joint Operation has been launched by Jammu and Kashmir Police & troops of Rising Star Corps on 23 Mar 25 in the general area of Sanyal, Hiranagar.”
Kathua has emerged as a critical infiltration route in recent years, with terrorists using the district as a gateway to reach Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, and Kashmir. The region has seen a spike in terror activities in 2024, with 44 fatalities, including 18 security personnel and 13 terrorists, reported across Jammu. The BSF has heightened vigilance along the border amid concerns of further infiltration attempts.
As the search operation continues, local residents have been urged to remain cautious, and security forces are determined to neutralize the threat.