Operation Trashi: Soldier killed in Jammu & Kashmir as Indian Army hunt terrorists in Kishtwar

A soldier was killed during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday, officials confirmed. The gunfight erupted as security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Shingpora area of Chhatru, following credible intelligence about the presence of militants.

In a post on X, the White Knight Corps of the Army said, “During the ongoing operation, fierce gunfight is continuing. One of our bravehearts sustained grievous injuries in the exchange of fire and has succumbed despite best medical efforts. Operation is in progress.”

The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps reported that contact was established with three to four terrorists believed to be trapped in the forested region.

Under Operation Trashi, exchange of fire broke out when contact was established with terrorists in the Singhpora area of Chhatru in Kishtwar this morning. Additional troops were inducted and operations are ongoing to neutralise the terrorists.

Additional troops were deployed to reinforce the operation, which remains ongoing with the objective of neutralising the militants. During the exchange of fire, the soldier sustained grievous injuries and succumbed despite urgent medical treatment.

The joint operation involves the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and paramilitary forces working in unison. Drones and aerial surveillance equipment have been deployed to locate the terrorists precisely.

The encounter follows a series of recent operations in Jammu and Kashmir, where security forces have intensified efforts against terror groups and their local support networks.

In recent weeks, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a series of intense counter-terror operations as security forces ramp up efforts to dismantle militant networks.

Just last week, three Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were eliminated in separate encounters in the Nadir village of Tral in Pulwama district.

The slain militants, identified as Asif Ahmed Sheikh, Amir Nazir Wani, and Yawar Ahmad Bhat, were all local residents linked to terror activities in the region.

These operations followed the killing of three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in the Zinpather Keller area of Shopian on 13 April, further disrupting terror infrastructure in South Kashmir.

These recent encounters form part of a broader crackdown initiated in the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April, which claimed 26 civilian lives.

Security forces have intensified search and destroy missions, including the demolition of properties linked to militants across Jammu and Kashmir. The ongoing operation in Kishtwar’s Shingpora area, where four terrorists remain trapped, continues this concerted campaign to neutralise terror threats and restore stability in the region.