After the elimination of three terrorists on Sunday, security forces claim to have neutralised a seven-member Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) module, named “Israel Group”, following an 18-month operation in the high-altitude areas of J&K’s Kishtwar district.
Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone) Bhim Sen Tuti said on Monday the group had infiltrated into India in April 2024 and had since been involved in 17 engagements with security forces. “Over the last year and a half, we have successfully neutralised all seven members of this module. Sunday marked the culmination of this sustained operation,” Tuti told reporters in Kishtwar.
Describing the outfit as a “hardcore terrorist group”, he said it had inflicted significant damage on security forces. Acting on precise intelligence, the remaining three members, including self-styled commander Saifullah, were tracked and neutralised in the Chhatroo area.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Counter-Insurgency Force (CIF) Delta, Major General APS Bal said the success was the result of months of coordinated and intelligence-based operations conducted in extremely challenging terrain and weather conditions.
“Displaying high standards of tactical precision, seamless inter-agency coordination and resolute operational efficiency, security forces rigorously pursued the terrorist group through rugged mountains, heavy rains and snowfall,” he said.
The final encounter site, located on steep mountain slopes, was cordoned off on the intervening night of February 21 and 22. Security forces re-engaged the terrorists around 11 am on February 22, eliminating the three remaining militants without any casualties among their own ranks.
Major General Bal highlighted the use of real-time drone surveillance, night-vision equipment and swift mobilisation of reinforcements, including Special Forces. “We had planned rotations carefully to avoid troop fatigue. At times, it took six to eight hours on foot to reach operational sites, but we ensured adequate reserves, including air-droppable teams,” he said.
A special mention was made of Army-trained dog Tyson, who was deployed to verify the presence of terrorists inside a ‘dhok’ (temporary hut). Tyson sustained a bullet injury after the terrorists opened fire and was immediately airlifted for medical treatment. Officials said the dog is now safe and stable.
During search operations, security forces recovered three AK-47 rifles and other war-like stores from the encounter site.
Based on intelligence inputs from police, the Intelligence Bureau and other agencies, a joint counter-terror operation codenamed “Operation Trashi-I” was launched on January 14 in Chhatroo by CIF Delta troops. Contact was established on January 18, leading to the busting of a well-stocked hideout. A soldier lost his life during that encounter. Relentless follow-up operations led to the elimination of Adil on February 4, narrowing the hunt to the final three militants who were killed on Sunday.
