A Special Forces commando, who was injured during an encounter with Pakistan-trained terrorists in the mountainous Kishtwar district on Sunday, succumbed to his injuries.The encounter took place in the dense forest area of Singhpura in Chhatru, where the Army launched Operation Trashi-1 along with the J&K Police and CRPF to neutralise a group of terrorists hiding in the area on Sunday. When the soldiers were searching for the terrorists in the rugged terrain, the latter lobbed grenades from a height, injuring at least eight army men.Three soldiers who sustained critical injuries were rushed to the Udhampur Command Hospital. However, Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces succumbed to his injuries. Reports said the group comprised highly trained Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists who had infiltrated from Pakistan months ago.It is believed the terrorists were aware of the soldiers’ movement in the forest, due to which they laid an ambush at a strategic location and hurled grenades at the troops. The search operation was suspended due to darkness and was resumed early on Monday morning.The Nagrota-based White Knight Corps, in a statement, said, “The GOC, White Knight Corps, and all ranks pay tributes to Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces, who made the supreme sacrifice while gallantly executing a counter-terrorism operation in the Singpura area during the ongoing Operation Trashi-1 on the intervening night of January 18-19, 2026. We honour his indomitable courage, valour and selfless devotion to duty and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of profound grief.”The White Knight Corps said operations continued in the Son Nar area, northeast of Chhatru. “The cordon has been further tightened and search operations expanded. Troops of the White Knight Corps, along with the J&K Police and CRPF, remain deployed in the area,” the statement said.Contact with terrorists was established during a search operation conducted as part of the ongoing joint counter-terror operations. “Troops displayed exceptional professionalism and resolve while responding to hostile fire under challenging terrain and conditions. Operations remain underway with additional forces inducted to reinforce the cordon, supported by close coordination with civil administration and security agencies,” the Army said.