STATE CORRESPONDENTS
Fearless Journalism from Jammu & Kashmir
Kishtwar Encounter: Special Forces Havildar Martyred, 8 Soldiers Injured in ‘Operation Trashi-I’
An Army Havildar of the elite Special Forces, identified as Havildar Gajendra Singh, succumbed to his injuries after being critically wounded in an encounter with terrorists in the upper reaches of Kishtwar district. He was among eight soldiers injured when heavily armed terrorists opened fire and hurled grenades at search parties during an ongoing counter-terror operation in the Singpora–Son Nar belt of the Chhatroo area on the night of January 18.
What We Know So Far
- The operation, launched around Sunday noon, has been codenamed “Operation Trashi‑I” by the Army’s White Knight Corps.
- Eight soldiers sustained mostly splinter injuries from grenade blasts and were evacuated to military hospitals for treatment.
- Security agencies believe 2–3 Jaish‑e‑Mohammad terrorists are holed up in dense forests overlooking the Singhpora–Sonnar area.
Officials said contact with the terrorists was established during a deliberate search in steep, forested terrain after specific intelligence about the presence of foreign militants. Taking advantage of high ground, the terrorists targeted advancing troops with AK‑47 fire and grenades, triggering a fierce exchange that lasted several hours before subsiding due to darkness.
The White Knight Corps, in a tribute post, hailed Havildar Gajendra Singh for his “indomitable courage and selfless devotion to duty” and reaffirmed support to his bereaved family. As the search on the rugged slopes enters a crucial phase, additional Army, CRPF, and J&K Police units, supported by drones and sniffer dogs, continue to tighten the cordon to neutralise the hiding terrorists.
