The operation, codenamed Operation Trashi-I, was launched on Sunday in Sonnar village near Mandral Singhpora in the Chatroo belt following intelligence inputs about terrorist presence in the area.
During the initial contact on Sunday afternoon, three soldiers were injured when a search team encountered terrorists around noon in the Sonnar area, northeast of Chatroo. Officials said the troops came under heavy fire after encountering a group of two to three foreign terrorists believed to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
“The terrorists opened indiscriminate fire and lobbed grenades in an attempt to break the security cordon,” an official said.
On Monday, security forces unearthed a major terrorist hideout near the encounter site. Several individuals were also picked up for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation, officials added.
The situation escalated again on Thursday morning when fresh contact was established with the holed-up terrorists in the dense forests of Singhpora. Heavy firing was reported from both sides, with officials confirming that efforts were underway to neutralise the terrorists operating in the area.
According to officials, a group of two to three JeM-affiliated terrorists is believed to be trapped in the encounter zone. Security forces have tightened the cordon and reinforcements have been deployed to prevent the terrorists from escaping.
The operation remains underway, and further details are awaited.
