Rajouri: An encounter broke out on Tuesday morning between terrorists and security forces in the Kandi area of Rajouri district, intensifying counter-terror operations in the Pir Panjal region.
According to officials, a joint team of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation after receiving credible intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the dense forest belt of Kandi. As the security forces zeroed in on the suspected hideout, terrorists opened fire, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire.
Sources suggest that 2–3 terrorists are believed to be trapped in the forest area. The operation is being conducted under heightened security, with additional reinforcements rushed to seal all possible escape routes. The thick forest cover and rough terrain are reportedly making the encounter challenging, but forces are maintaining a tight cordon to ensure the terrorists do not slip away.
Senior police and Army officials are monitoring the situation on the ground. “The operation is still underway, and intermittent firing is continuing,” an officer confirmed, adding that the priority is to neutralize the terrorists while minimizing collateral damage.
The Kandi forests of Rajouri, known for their difficult terrain, have witnessed several terror-related incidents in recent years, as infiltrating groups attempt to exploit the natural cover. This encounter comes amid a heightened security grid in the Jammu region following multiple reports of movement of terror modules across the Pir Panjal range.
Authorities have appealed to locals to stay indoors and avoid venturing close to the operation site until the area is fully sanitized.
