A Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist was neutralised in a joint operation by Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army and the CRPF in the Billawar area of Kathua district, officials said on Friday.

The operation was launched after security forces received specific intelligence inputs, following which the area was cordoned off and contact was established. Search operations in the area are still underway, according to an official statement.

This comes only 10 days after Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with other security agencies, uncovered three terrorist hideouts in the Billawar area of Kathua district following a coordinated operation.

Meanwhile, in another counter-terror operation in the region, several people were detained for questioning as security forces continued a large-scale search operation for the third consecutive day in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, officials said on Tuesday.

The operation began on Sunday in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo area after security forces established contact with terrorists hiding in the forests. A gunfight broke out during the operation, resulting in the death of a paratrooper and injuries to seven others, most of them caused by splinter wounds from a sudden grenade attack.

The terrorists managed to flee deeper into the forest, but security forces later destroyed their well-prepared hideout, which was stocked with winter supplies such as food items, blankets and utensils.

Senior officials, including Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, and Inspector General of CRPF, Jammu, R Gopala Krishna Rao, reached the encounter site and are camping in the area along with senior Army officers to closely monitor the operation.

Source: News18