Security Forces Intensify Crackdown on Militant Sympathizers in Kathua Amid Ongoing Operation: 16 detained for logistic support
Kathua, April 3, 2025 – Following a series of militant infiltrations and the tragic loss of four policemen, security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district have escalated their efforts to dismantle the overground networks supporting militant activities. The intensified crackdown targets sympathizers and logistical facilitators operating in the region, as part of a broader multi-agency operation to neutralize a group of infiltrating militants.
An official spokesperson confirmed that the operation is focused on disrupting the support structures that enable militants to move from the International Border (IB) to the rugged, hilly terrains of Jammu. “This action is aimed at breaking the backbone of militant operations by targeting those who provide them with shelter, food, and guidance,” the official stated.
According to sources, 16 individuals, including three women from the same family, have been detained for allegedly aiding militants with food, shelter, and logistical support. Additionally, security forces have questioned dozens of suspects believed to have played a role in facilitating militant movements across Kathua, Doda, Kishtwar, and Udhampur districts. The detained individuals are suspected of being part of a well-entrenched overground worker (OGW) network critical to the militants’ survival and mobility.
The crackdown coincides with an ongoing, large-scale search operation to apprehend three militants who have evaded capture despite multiple encounters. Security forces, comprising the Army, National Security Guard (NSG), Jammu and Kashmir Police, Special Operations Group (SoG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Border Security Force (BSF), have deployed advanced aerial surveillance tools, including drones and helicopters, alongside sniffer dogs. Ground teams are combing dense forest areas in Billawar, Bhaddu, Ghatti, and Kog-Mandli, leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit.
The operation traces back to March 23, when security forces first clashed with a fresh group of militants near the International Border in the Sanyal area. On March 27, a fierce gunfight in the same region resulted in the deaths of two militants, but the remaining members retaliated, killing four policemen and injuring three others before escaping into the forests. A subsequent encounter on March 31 in the Panjtirthi-Juthana area saw the militants once again slip through the cordon, intensifying the urgency of the current operation.
Security agencies emphasize that the militants’ ability to evade capture hinges on the support of overground workers. “Without a robust OGW network, these infiltrators would find it nearly impossible to sustain themselves in such hostile terrain,” a senior official noted. The crackdown on these facilitators is expected to persist as forces aim to choke off the militants’ lifelines and bring the fugitives to justice.
As the operation enters its 12th day, the region remains on high alert, with security forces determined to restore stability and prevent further loss of life in Kathua and its surrounding districts.
