Big Breaking: Suspicious Armed Individual Spotted Near Palli School in Samba District Amid Heightened Terror Concerns
Samba, April 04, 2025 – A local resident, Ravi Kanat Sharma, aged approximately 69, son of the late Sain Dass from Palli village, reported a disturbing sighting early this morning at around 6:25 AM. Sharma observed a suspicious individual dressed in camouflage clothing and carrying a weapon near Palli School in the Bari Brahmana area of Samba district. The unidentified person, who was wearing a helmet, arrived on an unknown motorcycle, alighted near the school, and proceeded on foot towards the Murade Chak side before disappearing from sight.
The Bari Brahmana police were promptly informed and rushed to the scene, initiating a thorough search operation to trace the suspect. Authorities have cordoned off the area and are investigating the incident, with efforts underway to identify the individual and determine their intentions.
This sighting has raised alarm bells in the region, particularly given its proximity to Kathua district, where recent terror activities have put security forces on high alert. Over the past two weeks, Kathua has witnessed a surge in militant-related incidents, with multiple encounters reported in villages such as Sanyal, Juthana, Rui, and Panjtirthi. On March 27, a violent gunfight in the Sanyal belt resulted in the deaths of two Pakistani terrorists, believed to be affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammad, and four policemen, while three others, including a deputy superintendent of police, were injured. The People’s Anti-Fascist Front, a shadow outfit of Jaish-e-Mohammad, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Further intensifying concerns, three suspected terrorists were spotted in Rui village on March 30, where they forcibly entered a home, took food, and fled into the forest. Security forces, including the Army, police, NSG, CRPF, and BSF, have since expanded their multi-tier combing operations across the forest belts of Rui, Juthana, Ghati, and Sanyal in Kathua’s Rajbagh region, as well as parts of Billawar, employing aerial surveillance and sniffer dogs to track down the militants. On March 31, a fresh gunfight erupted in the Panjtirthi area, with three terrorists believed to be trapped in the forest.
The Samba-Kathua border region, close to the International Border with Pakistan, has been a focal point for security operations following reports of infiltration attempts. Just days ago, six individuals were detained in Kathua for allegedly providing logistical support to terrorists, highlighting the presence of overground worker networks aiding militant activities in the area.
A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “The sighting in Palli village is being treated with utmost seriousness, especially given the recent escalation of terror activities in the adjoining Kathua district. We are coordinating with other agencies to ensure the safety of residents and neutralize any potential threat.”
Residents of Palli and surrounding areas have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. The incident highlights the fragile security situation along the border belt, where security forces remain engaged in relentless efforts to curb the rising tide of militancy. As the search continues, the connection, if any, between the suspicious individual in Samba and the ongoing terror operations in Kathua remains under investigation.
