Subhechcha Ganguly 
In a significant breakthrough, security forces eliminated three Pakistani terrorists, including top Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander Saifullah, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. The coordinated operation also led to simultaneous anti-terror efforts in Udhampur and Kishtwar regions to track down other militants believed to be part of a larger group.
According to officials, the encounter began in the Naidgam forests of Chatroo, a densely forested and snow-covered area in Kishtwar. The operation, which commenced on April 9, saw security forces gun down one terrorist early Friday morning, followed by the elimination of two others later in the day.
The slain terrorists have been identified as Saifullah, Farman, and Basha—all Pakistani nationals and members of the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror outfit. Each had a reward of Rs5 lakh on their heads.
“Security forces launched a well-coordinated offensive based on specific intelligence inputs. Initially, one terrorist was neutralized, and the remaining two were killed during follow-up operations,” said a senior police official involved in the operation.
Personnel from the Army’s elite 2, 5, and 9 Para Special Forces, along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, were deployed for the high-stakes operation.
Given the challenging terrain, helicopters were used to track and pin down the terrorists attempting to flee through the rugged landscape. A large cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the encounter site.
Security forces continue to comb the area as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks operating in the region.
