A protracted manhunt in the rugged terrain of Jammu and Kashmir concluded on Sunday as security forces neutralised three militants, including a high-profile commander of the proscribed outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The encounter, which took place in the Kishtwar district, marks a significant victory for counter-terrorism operations in the region.
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The Fall of the ‘Invincible’ Saifullah
Central to this operation was the elimination of a militant known as Saifullah, a figure who had gained a degree of notoriety for his ability to evade capture. According to reports from NDTV, Saifullah had been operating in the shadows for over two years, successfully slipping through the net of security forces on at least 20 separate occasions. His luck finally ran out in the dense forests of Kishtwar during a coordinated strike.
Details of Operation Trashi-1
The encounter was the result of a meticulously planned intelligence-led mission dubbed Operation Trashi-1. Following credible reports of militant movement in the high-altitude reaches of the Chatru forest, a joint task force—comprising the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and elite Special Forces units—was deployed.
As the tactical teams closed in on a suspected hideout, they were met with a heavy volley of gunfire. The ensuing skirmish was intense, with security forces returning effective fire to neutralise the threat. Following the gunfight, search parties recovered a cache of weaponry, including two assault rifles and various items of sophisticated combat gear.
Conflict Hotspots: Operation Trashi-1 Coverage
| Strategic Zone | Terrain Type | Recent Activity |
| Chatru | Dense Forest | Site of nearly six skirmishes in the past month. |
| Sannar | Mountainous | Intensive cordons and search operations. |
| Dolgam | Remote Highland | Active patrolling and intelligence gathering. |
| Dichhar | High Altitude | Focus of ongoing sweeping operations. |
Strategic Context and Regional Impact
The Kishtwar region has seen a spike in volatility recently. This latest success follows the recent neutralisation of Adil, another prominent figure within the JeM hierarchy. The death of Saifullah is expected to disrupt the operational command of the group in the Chatru, Sannar, and Dolgam sectors, which have served as strategic corridors for militant movement.
Military analysts suggest that the frequency of these encounters—nearly half a dozen in the Chatru forest alone over the last month—indicates a heightened state of alert and a more proactive “search and destroy” stance by the Indian security apparatus. As Operation Trashi-1 continues, the focus remains on sanitising the treacherous mountain passes that militants use to bypass traditional checkpoints.